Willingdon Basketball Courts
I collaborated with Buckets & Borders and the City of Burnaby to revitalize the Willingdon Heights basketball courts using public art. I was commissioned to design ground murals for two outdoor half-courts, an 86-foot retaining wall mural, and custom project apparel. To make sure the artwork truly belonged to the neighbourhood, the design directly incorporated ideas and feedback gathered from local youth design sessions.
Designing for a live court presented an exciting challenge: balancing impact with playability. I used a bold, limited colour palette to bring high energy to the space while keeping key game lines, 3-point arcs, and baselines clean and easy to see. The final result blends functional design with public art, turning a neighbourhood court into an inviting, accessible landmark for local youth, families, and athletes.
Common Ground
The North Court design primarily utilizes the triangle, the most stable shape in engineering, known for maintaining its structural integrity and strength under pressure. In this artwork, triangles symbolize community strength, safety, and the unwavering support neighbours provide one another. Oriented in a single direction, they form a visual pathway that welcomes people into the space and reinforces a sense of inclusion.
The South Court design presents a welcoming, playful expression. A large semicircle and two perspective cubes come together to create a smiling face, signalling that the court is a safe and joyful space where everyone belongs. Inspired by suns, blueberries, and basketballs, the centre circle serves as the heartbeat of the design.
With no beginning or end, the circle becomes a symbol of togetherness and continuity, representing coexistence, growth, and friendship both on and off the court.
The wall mural extends this visual language through a geometric mosaic inspired by west coast landscapes. Triangles, arches and circles reference trees, mountains, water, and the sun, using a warm and cool color palette to represent the connection between nature, people, and place.
Ultimately, each geometric element reflects a core truth of this community: that just like these individual shapes, when we come together, we create a vibrant whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts.