The Story Behind Every One Matters
- Nathan Kim
- Oct 26
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 27
I designed this merch to raise awareness for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), starting with helping people understand what T1D actually is. One of the most common misunderstandings is that T1D is the same as diabetes in general, which often leads to unfair judgment toward people living with it. I wanted to break that misconception, so I created the slogan Every One Matters.
I used colors like pink and blue, my favorites, because they make me feel good and hopeful. Since people with T1D often wear devices like pumps or Dexcoms, I designed the clothes to be comfortable and slightly oversized. And it’s not just for people with T1D, anyone who wants to show support can wear it.
I really appreciate the T-shirts that T1D organizations hand out; they have their own important purpose. But I wanted mine to be something people could wear casually in daily life, to school or anywhere, without it feeling out of place. Maybe someone sees it and asks what it means, and then I can naturally explain what T1D is. I also wanted to make sure no one feels pressured to reveal their diagnosis if they’re not ready. Everyone should be able to share their story when they want to. That’s why I wanted a slogan with a double meaning, Every One Matters.
The idea for the logo came from my internship at Lewkin, where I helped with PR box designs. I got to sit in on ideation sessions with the branding team, brainstorming concepts, making slogans, creating mockups, and watching how designs became real boxes. Seeing that whole process from idea to print really helped me when I started working on this project.
For this merch, I used a site called Printful, where I could upload my own logo, choose colors and fonts, and experiment with different drafts. After a few test designs, I finalized a few versions that best express Every One Matters.
