A joyful, hopeful, fulfilling design commission for Stevie’s Safe Spaces — (and more! Stay tuned! Stevie can move mountains with their empathy, determination, and talent, so I expect **book** news any day now!!)
It all started last August with Autism and Austria-Hungary 😄 Stevie Bees had posted uplifting, inclusive content in some of my neurodivergent and other online communities, so I followed their page. Soon, there was a trivia giveaway post, and my AuDHD brain went, “zap, bounce, zoom, I know the answer!” Yay, I won a free pin! Check it out:
A few days later, Stevie asked the hive (the safe-space and transgender activism community they’re beautifully building) for some bee 🐝 images to cheer them up after a hard day. Stevie uplifts so many people — it was my turn! And a simple message I sent with my bees-and-poppies painting turned into the most exciting art commission — and collaboration — of my career.
My cheering-up bees:
Putting kindness into the world began a lovely partnership and friendship with someone I admire! (One day I hope to visit Canada and meet them!) The commission is for a redesign of the iconic Safe Space Tee & Hoodie — and it goes hand-in-hand with a collaboration on a children’s book they wrote! I’ve been busy illustrating… but that’s all a secret for now! 🤫
I knew we needed to have continuity for the activism brand, so I kept key elements of the well-known imagery while also bringing in the whimsy and color of KidLit illustration style plus a bit of Art Deco for some futuristic, artsy fun.
My initial sketch and first draft, next to the previous design:
And the finished design:
And look! Tees and hoodies for making the world better!! Stevie says, “This design is an absolute work of heart that we are very proud to offer the world.” I do feel proud, yes — and so honored to be part of this!! Especially with everything our world is facing right now, it fills my heart to be able to be part of making life more loving and affirming for people everywhere.
Tees: https://steviesafespaces.com/new-safe-space
Hoodies: https://steviesafespaces.com/new-safe-space-hoodie
Sponsor a transgender activism shirt to make activism accessible to all: https://steviesafespaces.com/sponsor-a-shirt
Can’t wait to wear mine 🥰 I hope one day that all the other neurodivergent, queer, and every-other-identity people in the world will feel safe to be who they are!
Carrie Schneider Author/Illustrator 