The breadth of his work has developed into an intentionally diverse portfolio. Most recently he has been working on civic infrastructure facilities as well as mixed-use commercial developments. Derik was the 2016 recipient of AIA Seattle's Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship, which allowed him to travel extensively, exploring the role of emerging technologies within the practice of architecture. In March of 2017, he curated the exhibition Smarter Buildings, which addressed overlapping themes of technology and architecture. Derik holds a Bachelor of Design and a Master of Architecture from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. During his studies he participated in the University of Cape Town BAS (Honours) program in South Africa and also spent time studying in Tianjin, China.