Banned Books & Coffee Nooks Drop

My new collection, Banned Books & Coffee Nooks has dropped!

It’s a gorgeous piece that I’m so proud of. However, the meaning goes a little deeper than the rich 60’s inspired color palette, and hand drawn florals. My inspiration behind it comes from a lot of the turmoil I’ve witnessed in my own son’s school district (and beyond). The assault on speech and independent thought in our schools has really galvanized me. As a graphic designer, I tend to focus my activism through acts of design. I recently designed for the campaign of a block of school board candidates in our community (we won!), and subsequently other local candidates with sympathetic view points.

I’m admittedly not the biggest reader, but I will fight voraciously for all of our right to access to literature. I’ll never forget how, in sixth grade, The Giver challenged my own perspective on reality, society, and prejudice. Here was an engaging, and easily understandable story about the dangers of racism and eugenics, that I could easily absorb as a 12 year old. Now it’s on many banned book lists, and that is very much by design.

Moving past the heaviness that is the dangerous conservative push for censorship in our country, this is a really lovely design. It is a celebration of the rich world of books, paired with what I consider to be it’s comforting sidekick—coffee! This bandana is smart and pretty, yet defiant. Just like you, maybe? Lots of little details on this piece. The borders and corners mimic the edges of your favorite, dog-eared pages. I chose a vintage color palette, inspired by the book covers I poured over as a kid—my earliest introduction to graphic design! Coffee beans are scattered throughout as delicious little endorsements, and the floral is a coffee plant!

So, snag one of these puppies, and show your support for free speech and caffeinated beverages—‘cause they really go hand-in-hand.