Solar Eclipse Merch

Brief

In 2024, the solar eclipse passed once again through Southern Illinois—a rare event. On a drive home, I realized I hadn’t seen any local merch commemorating it, so I started sketching ideas to see what might stick. I wanted to create something regionally meaningful that avoided the usual clichés.

Process

From the start, I knew I wanted the design to reflect the identity of Southern Illinois while feeling fresh and modern. During my research, I landed on Buckminster Fuller—a visionary architect and local legend known for the geodesic dome. As a fan of mid-century aesthetics, this connection felt natural. I began experimenting with ways to incorporate the dome into the eclipse visual and quickly realized it could perfectly represent the eclipse itself. The final illustration features Fuller’s iconic dome eclipsing the sun, styled with clean lines and a minimalist layout inspired by the Swiss design movement of his era. Once the concept was refined, I partnered with a longtime friend and collaborator at Home Print Shop, a local screen-printing shop with a line of Southern Illinois-themed goods. We hand screen-printed the design on premium French Paper Co. Stock and Comfort Colors t-shirts.

Solution

This self-initiated project became a true community collaboration. We printed, promoted, and sold the merch locally, with help from friends and family who also modeled in the product photos. The response was overwhelming. The collection sold through social media and was even picked up by the local neighborhood co-op. It was incredibly rewarding to create something that resonated so deeply with our community—and to do it all by hand, with people I care about.