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Some illustrations play the role of entertaining, others are created to inspire, and there are some powerful images who deliver a strong message and are thought-provoking. This is the case with award-winning conceptual illustrator Stephan Schmitz based in Zürich, Switzerland who creates clever and unique artworks that perfectly depict the modern world.

Stephan Schmitz's creative ideas are like visual metaphors that tell simple stories revealing the true face of our world. The visual storytelling surprises us with symbolism and depth which some of us long for in the world where everything is already thought for us. Many of us will recognize the hidden and suppressed emotions that we tend to keep to ourselves because they are hard to talk about.

Every creative drawing is like a puzzle that a viewer has to solve as the subject matter can only be seen if you take a really good look at it. The artist only provides us visual clues and we are the ones who have to connect the dots. His choice of a subtle palette of colors makes these illustrations surreal and obscure reflecting on not so simple matters. So we invite you to take a look at these mind-bending illustrations and consider how much they really represent our lives and social issues that we encounter. If you will want to see more of his illustrations, you can also check his previous post here on Bored Panda.

More info: Instagram | stephan-schmitz.ch

#1

Self-Doubts

Self-Doubts

Stephan Schmitz Report

Alaia Khalilah-Williams Shabazz
Community Member
6 years ago

I'm disturbed

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    #2

    Peace

    Peace

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Caroline
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    I really like this illustration. Wish there were more doves in this crashing world.

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    #3

    How To Conquer Your Fears And Use Them To Your Advantage

    How To Conquer Your Fears And Use Them To Your Advantage

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Laura
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited)

    Taking my misery, make it my b*tch, can't be everyone's favorite girl

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    #4

    Am I The Same Person In Different Situations?

    Am I The Same Person In Different Situations?

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Daria B
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Yes you are. You are your brain's response to various situations.

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    #5

    And I‘m Sorry About The Moon. How Could I Know You‘d Disapprove?

    And I‘m Sorry About The Moon. How Could I Know You‘d Disapprove?

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Zoe's Mom
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    There's actually something very peaceful about this one.

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    #6

    Our Relationship With Our Phones

    Our Relationship With Our Phones

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    I draw things
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    We are litterly attached lol but that took skill

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    #7

    Coping With Depression

    Coping With Depression

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Magpie
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Help is out there, Keep talking to people, if the first meds do not work TELL the doctor that. If the first people don't help ask someone else. If they are talking jargon , ask them for clarifications. Yes there is a bottom, and there IS hope. Hold on.

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    #8

    Role Models

    Role Models

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    Not what you think.
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This is really sad.

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    #9

    The Crisis The Catholic Church Faces

    The Crisis The Catholic Church Faces

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Some is changed but not a whole lot. Young men entering into a Seminary should get an intense psychological evaluation BEFORE they are even admitted to training!

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    #10

    Burnout

    Burnout

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Amr Mohamed
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    oof. too true

    #11

    How We Become Who We Are

    How We Become Who We Are

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Especially those of us with Chronic illness!

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    #12

    Because Of A Strange Law Released In 1800 Women In Paris Officially Weren‘t Allowed To Wear Pants Up Until The Year 2013

    Because Of A Strange Law Released In 1800 Women In Paris Officially Weren‘t Allowed To Wear Pants Up Until The Year 2013

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Hocus Pocus
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Woah that's quite recent. What would happen if you did wear pants?

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    #13

    The Journey Into Myself

    The Journey Into Myself

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Laura
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    There's no way out

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    #14

    Unknown

    Unknown

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Big Pharma, in the US, is causing people to die instead of helping them!

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    #15

    Taking A Break

    Taking A Break

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Taking "me time" is so good for your sanity and brain! It is also good for the well-being of family.

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    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    Professional Guinea Pigs

    Professional Guinea Pigs

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Alaia Khalilah-Williams Shabazz
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This one is just gold

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    #17

    Unknown

    Unknown

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    Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    That's a pretty thought.

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    #18

    At The End Of The Rainbow

    At The End Of The Rainbow

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Water Bottle
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Soooo what does this show? I got a few ideas. We’re destroying the earth? We kill what has been given to us? I don’t know, anyone got any other ideas?

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    #19

    Love

    Love

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    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    So said the artist thinks that way.

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    #20

    The Personality-Riddle

    The Personality-Riddle

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Jeff
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Duke Kaboom!!

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    #21

    There‘s Growing Reluctance In Some Countries And Cultures To Vaccinate

    There‘s Growing Reluctance In Some Countries And Cultures To Vaccinate

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Elaine Dodge
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    As soon as they have a polio/measles/rubella epidemic and millions of people die or are disfigured or crippled that growing reluctance will swiftly become a mandatory vaccination law - which it already should be!

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    #22

    The Sound That Hacks Our Souls

    The Sound That Hacks Our Souls

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Alex Call
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This looks awesome.

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    #23

    Life Skills

    Life Skills

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Rita Frost
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    In the sets I was given as a child there was never enough blue, or green, or whatever the main colour was. But same size pots of purple or orange or whatever you didn’t need much of. Which may be a sort of metaphor for don’t accept what you are given, mix your own.

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    #24

    Fall‘s Here

    Fall‘s Here

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Elaine Dodge
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    I absolutely loathe leaf blowers! That hideous high-pitched whine and air pollution! Use a damn rake you lazy sod! Rakes are quiet, environmentally friendly and you don't annoy every neighbour in a square mile or frighten the birds or other small animals, wake the babies mothers have just put down or fill the air with dust! People with dust allergies will thank you! Besides, using a rake is good cardio. Or better yet, enjoy the beauty of fall leaves.

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    #25

    Change Of Direction

    Change Of Direction

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Laura
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Way more people should do this.

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    #26

    Financial Health In The U.S.

    Financial Health In The U.S.

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Giorgio Prodoti
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    I don't get it

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    #27

    Trash Talk

    Trash Talk

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Words CAN hurt!

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    #28

    How Scientists Are Looking Into Ways To Prevent Suicides

    How Scientists Are Looking Into Ways To Prevent Suicides

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Magpie
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Yes it is complicated, yes treatments are improving. YES there is hope, if the first thing doesn't help tell that person, get the meds changed. And / or, try a different therapist. Yes every sufferer / survivor needs different treatments.

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    #29

    Authority

    Authority

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Luccan
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Breathtaking

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    #30

    The Philosophy Of Making Love

    The Philosophy Of Making Love

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Blue Distefano
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    WOW THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY

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    #31

    How My Depression Ruined My Wedding

    How My Depression Ruined My Wedding

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    bananapower_2.0
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    thats relly sad

    #32

    My Husband Left Me And My Family For My Best Friend

    My Husband Left Me And My Family For My Best Friend

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Been there.

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    #33

    How Opinions Are Made

    How Opinions Are Made

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Smoofy
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    See, I saw this as a positive thing, but everyone else (in the comments at least) seems to think this is negative. It looks like they're getting information from lots of different places so as to be able to form their own, whole opinion. Forming an opinion based solely on your own experience and never looking for or considering other ideas is ignorance, and I thought this was showing how multifaceted and complex and whole opinions should be

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    #34

    Is Happiness A Question Of Character?

    Is Happiness A Question Of Character?

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    It is a question of attitude!

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    #35

    Diabetes

    Diabetes

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    John L
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This should be one for cancer. While I am not a conspiracy nut, I do believe that there will never be a cure for cancer as long as treating the sick is profitable...

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    #36

    Housing Affordability

    Housing Affordability

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Consistently causing homelessness!

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    #37

    Trump

    Trump

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Water Bottle
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Any doubt about this just look at his tweet after he assassinated Iran’s top general. A freaking American flag.

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    #38

    Graves Disease

    Graves Disease

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Karin Gibson
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Graves disease is over active thyroid caused by the body tissues acting against the organ. It is an auto-immune disease.

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    #39

    Confusing Court Case

    Confusing Court Case

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    juice
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    ooh, this is cool.

    #40

    The Au-Pair Girl Stole My Husband... And My Daughter

    The Au-Pair Girl Stole My Husband... And My Daughter

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    bananapower_2.0
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited)

    thats sad

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    #41

    The Phenomenon Of Women Being More Likely To Be Put In Leader Positions During Times Of Crisis

    The Phenomenon Of Women Being More Likely To Be Put In Leader Positions During Times Of Crisis

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Lisa Seitz
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    🙂

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    #42

    Possession

    Possession

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Blue Shadow
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    The less things we own, the neater our lives can be. Plus, living simply is better for the environment.

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    #43

    Addictions

    Addictions

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Water Bottle
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Addiction is real, but it can always be stopped

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    #44

    Opinion Polls

    Opinion Polls

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Sheesh!

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    #45

    Penguins

    Penguins

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    TheCakeIsAPie
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This one made me cry actually, really sad that thats what Earth will come to. And some people are saying its a big lie just to fill their already overflowing pockets.

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    #46

    The Future Of Work

    The Future Of Work

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    .˜”*°• Kawaii Satan •°*”˜
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    the higher you go the less you can breath

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    #47

    Prediabetes

    Prediabetes

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Water Bottle
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    I don’t think I get this

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    #48

    Life Skills

    Life Skills

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    M
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    I wonder which life skill will end up being the one puzzle piece that is inevitably missing?

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    #49

    Protection From Legal Storms

    Protection From Legal Storms

    Stephan Schmitz Report

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    #50

    You Can Go Upstairs Now, Nina

    You Can Go Upstairs Now, Nina

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Staci bigBolden
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Child abuse? Or the dark?

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    #51

    Big Eyed Fish

    Big Eyed Fish

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Chris DiFonso
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    ???

    #52

    Stealing Time

    Stealing Time

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    I'm dark
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    kinda looks like gru!

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    #53

    Time Will Heal Your Wounds

    Time Will Heal Your Wounds

    Stephan Schmitz Report

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    #54

    Unknown

    Unknown

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Elaine Dodge
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Book cover potential

    #55

    Welcome To The New Year

    Welcome To The New Year

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    As a paramedic, I saw this WAY to often! Not to mention the devastation it causes for family and friends!

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    #56

    How To Find Peace And Quiet In The City

    How To Find Peace And Quiet In The City

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Barely.

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    #57

    Unknown

    Unknown

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    M
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    My god, that is a visual representation of me after my divorce! I love it!

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    #58

    How Opinions Are Made

    How Opinions Are Made

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Ayep!

    #59

    Listening

    Listening

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    More of it!

    #60

    Depression

    Depression

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Magpie
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    For me depression feels like everything is made of concrete, my blankets, my bones. My thoughts ( slow as crawling through neck deep wet concrete ).

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    #61

    Kangaroo Households

    Kangaroo Households

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Alex Call
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    It looks cool but I think I'm missing something here.

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    #62

    Why People Are Leaving The Catholic Church

    Why People Are Leaving The Catholic Church

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Chris DiFonso
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    ???

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    #63

    Adopting The Right Life Skills

    Adopting The Right Life Skills

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    #64

    Streaming Services That Specialize In Certain Genres

    Streaming Services That Specialize In Certain Genres

    Stephan Schmitz Report

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    #65

    Overcoming The Fear Of Taking Risks

    Overcoming The Fear Of Taking Risks

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    M
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Interesting that there is a fracture forming in the middle of the bridge.

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    #66

    Portrait

    Portrait

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    There is some Janus in all of us!

    #67

    Time Is Money

    Time Is Money

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    #68

    Time Is Running Away

    Time Is Running Away

    Stephan Schmitz Report

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    #69

    Merkel

    Merkel

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Water Bottle
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Found this about her, perhaps she been draining Germany or the EU of their money? Angela Dorothea Merkel is a German politician serving as the chancellor of Germany since 2005. She served as the leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 2000 to 2018. Merkel has been widely described as the de facto leader of the European Union, the most powerful woman in the world, and "leader of the free world".

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    #70

    Alternative Ways Of Charging Batteries And Winning Electricity

    Alternative Ways Of Charging Batteries And Winning Electricity

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    John L
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    I'm surprised that there aren't more alternatives like this. I was at the gym the other day, wondering why they don't hook the machines to the building. Wasted energy....

    #71

    Unknown

    Unknown

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Chris DiFonso
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    ???

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    #72

    Veteran Navy

    Veteran Navy

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Water Bottle
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Deep

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    #73

    The Future Of Vitual Reality

    The Future Of Vitual Reality

    Stephan Schmitz Report

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    #74

    The Job Market For People Over Fifty

    The Job Market For People Over Fifty

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    Tell me about it!

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    #75

    Happy Occident

    Happy Occident

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    #76

    Unknown

    Unknown

    Stephan Schmitz Report

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    #77

    Being Spontaneous vs. Planning

    Being Spontaneous vs. Planning

    Stephan Schmitz Report

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    #78

    The Catholic Church Under Pressure

    The Catholic Church Under Pressure

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    bananapower_2.0
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    serched it up and it said there was sex abuse or somthin i dunno

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    #79

    The Influence That Streaming Services Have On The Music Industry

    The Influence That Streaming Services Have On The Music Industry

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    #80

    Diabetes

    Diabetes

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Blue Shadow
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    The cracks in the ground are a good representation for how diabetes can affect your life and how difficult it can be.

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    #81

    The History Of Footwear

    The History Of Footwear

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    bananapower_2.0
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    now what do they wear

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    #82

    Unknown

    Unknown

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    #83

    Farewell Gift

    Farewell Gift

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    #84

    Human Dignity

    Human Dignity

    Stephan Schmitz Report

    Lisa Seitz
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Nice

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    #85

    Unknown

    Unknown

    Stephan Schmitz Report

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    #86

    Pee Power

    Pee Power

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    Water Bottle
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This is the weirdest but... maybe a good pee influences good ideas?

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    #87

    Putting Some Money Aside

    Putting Some Money Aside

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    Lisa Seitz
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Nice idea 💡