My name is Abi Stevens, and I'm a 32-year-old illustrator living in Cambridge, UK. I make vibrant and striking pins, prints, stickers, etc., designed to empower people with chronic illnesses like me.
I'm currently running a Kickstarter to fund colorful, eco-friendly wooden pins for those who feel trapped or disenfranchised by the hamster wheel of capitalism. I intend to encourage people to focus on health and positive action over financial and productivity goals.
Inspired by my personal experiences as a spoonie – a chronically ill person whose energy levels and activities are limited by their condition/s – I have previously launched collections of 'Chronic Warrior' pins designed to empower people in similar circumstances and hopes that these designs will also raise awareness of the struggles faced by the many people with long-term illness (15 million in the UK alone).
My art has become an outlet for my feelings of frustration and loss since I developed Chronic migraines and other health issues. This new series of designs are my way of fighting back against a socio-political system that tells me my limited work capacity is not 'enough'; that my worth is determined by my productivity and the numbers in my bank account.
As people begin to return to work after long stretches of working from home, I feel that now is the perfect time to remind people that the accommodations needed for disabled people to access the workplace can benefit everyone and create a more inclusive, cooperative work culture in the process.
For many people with chronic illness and mental health problems, losing the flexible working options that have been available during lockdowns could be devastating. Many people with long covid have to adjust to their 'new normal' and will feel that same sense of loss and fear that I and every newly disabled person experience. Therefore, it seems essential to remind people that putting your mental and physical health first needn't be a pandemic-only approach.
I hope my colorful and striking pin designs will serve as reminders that there is more to us than our economic output. The pins include phrases such as 'productivity ≠ worth' and 'rest is for rebels' to serve as visual cues to prioritize self-care and time with loved ones. You can find the campaign and become a backer at my Kickstarter, which is linked below.
More info: kickstarter.com
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