The South Carolina BBQ Project: Signs, Symbols, and Stories from the Pit

Part history, part design study, and part love letter to the state's most treasured foodway, The South Carolina BBQ Project explores the culture of barbecue in the Palmetto state. Through hand-painted signs, roadside architecture, styrofoam plates, and everyday ephemera, Spainhour reveals how design shapes our sense of authenticity, memory, and tradition. Originally created as Spainhour's MFA thesis, the project evolved into a deeper fascination for the culture of barbecue across South Carolina. The book blends storytelling, visual research, and cultural history to offer a fresh perspective on a beloved regional staple.