The moment an idea hits you, it isn’t just a thought: it’s a surge. It’s that electrical spark that travels from your brain to your gut, telling you that things are about to change. For years, I’ve been living in that current, building DC's LEDs right here in Rochester Hills, Michigan. But as any inventor will tell you, a product is never just a product. A guitar strap isn't just a piece of leather, and a safety vest isn't just fabric. They are statements of identity. They ar

The moment an idea hits you, it isn’t just a thought: it’s a surge. It’s that electrical spark that travels from your brain to your gut, telling you that things are about to change. For years, I’ve been living in that current, building DC's LEDs right here in Rochester Hills, Michigan. But as any inventor will tell you, a product is never just a product. A guitar strap isn't just a piece of leather, and a safety vest isn't just fabric. They are statements of identity. They ar

Hey there, neighbors. I’m Derek Washington, the owner of DC's LEDs. If you’ve ever spent a winter or a foggy spring morning driving through Rochester Hills, you know how quickly the visibility can drop to zero. I remember one particular night, heading back from a gig in Southfield during a classic Michigan "surprise" whiteout. I realized then that being "visible" wasn't just about wearing a neon vest, it was about cutting through the chaos with technology. That realization le

Hey there, neighbors. I’m Derek Washington, the owner of DC's LEDs. If you’ve ever spent a winter or a foggy spring morning driving through Rochester Hills, you know how quickly the visibility can drop to zero. I remember one particular night, heading back from a gig in Southfield during a classic Michigan "surprise" whiteout. I realized then that being "visible" wasn't just about wearing a neon vest, it was about cutting through the chaos with technology. That realization le

I remember one night driving just outside of Rochester Hills, heading toward the more rural patches of Michigan. If you’ve ever driven those backroads during a "whiteout" or even just a standard moonless night, you know it’s a different kind of dark. It’s the kind of dark where your high beams feel like they’re being swallowed by the void. Suddenly, a shape appeared. It wasn't a deer. It was a person walking on the shoulder, dressed in the traditional dark blues and blacks co

If you’ve spent any time driving down Walton Boulevard or Rochester Road after the sun dips below the horizon, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Michigan nights aren't just dark; they can be downright invisible, especially when that lake-effect weather kicks in. I’m Derek Washington, the owner of DC’s LEDs, and I’ve spent years thinking about how to keep our community seen and safe. Lately, there’s been a specific buzz around our Rochester Hills headquarters. It isn't