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Design Spotlight

Creativity Unleashed: Diving into Our Design World

Our Design Spotlight takes you behind the scenes of Whee! Pride and Whee! Design's creative process. Explore the inspiration and stories behind our diverse range of designs, from vibrant Pride-themed art to playful and imaginative graphics. These posts celebrate the creativity and thought that go into making designs that resonate with you, no matter your taste.


Design Spotlight / local influence

Titan Niagara

A Comicon Erie T-Shirt Concept

I was bummed my Titan Niagara design wasn't selected for the 2024 Comicon Erie T-Shirt contest, but I loved it so much, I decided to make it a reality anyway.

Inspired by the awesome Brig Niagara, I wanted to create a cool, anime-style mech that represented Erie's maritime heritage. Titan Niagara is the result – a towering, robotic version of the ship, standing tall over Presque Isle Bay.

As a transplant who's called Erie home for over 30 years, I've always looked up to the Brig Niagara. It's a symbol of Erie's history and spirit. I hope Titan Niagara can become a new symbol for the city, a fun and imaginative way to celebrate our maritime heritage.

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Design Spotlight / pop culture

Out of Oz Collection

Inspired by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Are you ready to step back into the magical world of Oz?

Our Out of Oz collection is a love letter to L. Frank Baum's classic stories. We've taken the iconic characters and scenes from the original books and given them a fresh, modern twist.

Whether you're a fan of Dorothy's journey, the Wicked Witch of the West, or the lovable Cowardly Lion, you'll find something to adore in this collection. From flying monkeys to the Yellow Brick Road, we've captured the spirit of adventure, friendship, and a touch of mischief that made the original stories so beloved.

Shop the Out of Oz Collection
Design Spotlight / Regional Pride

Show Your Pride in NWPA with the 2024 Pride on the Bay T-Shirt!

Erie, get ready to shine! Pride Fest is moving to a brand new location this year – Liberty Park! Mark your calendars (Saturday, June 29th) because Pride on the Bay 2024 promises to be bigger and better than ever. To celebrate this exciting new chapter, I'm thrilled to unveil the official 2024 t-shirt design! This year marks my sixth year collaborating with the NWPA Pride Alliance and I'm really excited to bring this new design to you all!

This collaboration with the NWPA Pride Alliance has been a true honor. It all started with me winning the design contest for the t-shirt years ago. After a couple of years I was directly contracted to create the design, and now I have the privilege of providing my design services as part of the board.

This year's design draws inspiration from Erie's magnificent bayfront. The vibrant colors of the Progressive Pride Flag wrap around the shoreline, creating a beautiful abstract bay visual.

We'll be using a printing technology called 4-color process screen printed transfers for create the shirts. This allows us to include all the colors of the Progressive Pride Flag for a truly inclusive design, while still keeping the shirts affordable for the community. Plus, this technology delivers high-quality, super colorful prints that everyone will love!

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your limited-edition 2024 Pride on the Bay t-shirt and head down to Liberty Park to celebrate with the Erie LGBTQ+ community! It's going to be an unforgettable event. These shirts (along with hoodies and tank tops) are now available for pre-order on the NWPA Pride Alliance web site under Shop at: nwpapride.org. See you there!

Design Spotlight / Eclipse 2024

Total Eclypse: North American Tour Design

Gear Up for the Eclipse with Our Rock-Inspired, Personalized Apparel

There's something undeniably magical about an eclipse. It's one of those rare moments that make you stop and gaze in awe at the sky. That's exactly the feeling I wanted to capture in our Total Eclypse collection. It's not just about astronomy; it's about those moments that make us all look up in wonder.

I'm really excited about this collection, and I think you will be too. It's got t-shirts, hoodies, and tanks, each with a design that's a nod to this incredible event. And the cool part? You can personalize them! Add your city, mark a special date – make it a keepsake of where you were when the sky put on its show.

Design Spotlight / flyer design

April Flyer Collection for The Zone Dance Club

Glow Month, Birthday Battle, and an Invasion

April at the Zone is Glow Month! The whole gets decked out in glow in the dark decorations and several birthdays are celebrated. This month's flyers include the overall Glow event, The Battle of the Aries Drag Battle, and a special Pup/Leather/Bear night.

Visit the Zone Web Site
Glow Weekend Flyer Design by Whee! Studios
Zone's April Battle of the Aries Face Show Flyer Design by Whee! Studios
Leather/Bear/Pup Invasion Flyer Design by Whee! Studios
Design Spotlight / whee plus

Whee! Plus The Zone Dance Club

Support Local Drag Design

Welcome to our exciting collaboration with The Zone Dance Club in Erie, PA! Our collection of co-branded t-shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise is designed to showcase your support for the vibrant Queer Community. From trendy tees to cozy hoodies, our collection is all about celebrating diversity, inclusivity, and the power of unity. We believe that fashion and self-expression go hand in hand, and with our co-branded apparel, you can make a statement that is both stylish and meaningful. So, join us in spreading love and acceptance with every purchase, and let's dance together toward a world where everyone feels welcomed and embraced!

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Support Local Drag T-Shirts by Whee! Studios and The Zone
Support Local Design by Whee! Studios and The Zone
Design Spotlight / COLLAB

Whee! PLUS NWPA Pride

Collab Design Showcasing Pride

Whee! Studios is teaming up with NWPA Pride Alliance in Erie, Pennsylvania to bring you some seriously awesome designs! We're proud to be working alongside such a fantastic organization to provide fun and unique apparel and accessories for members of the Queer Community in Northwest Pennsylvania and beyond. So whether you're strutting your stuff at a local pride parade or just want to show off your pride wherever you go, we've got you covered. Get ready to look and feel amazing with our vibrant and inclusive designs!

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Queer Definition T-Shirts by Whee! Pride and NWPA Pride
Queer Definition Design by Whee! Studios and NWPA Pride
Design Spotlight / flyer design

March Flyer Collection for The Zone Dance Club

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day and the Loss of a Friend

This month, the Zone in Erie has several events planned. We've done flyers and web graphics for their annual O'Zone St. Patrick's Day Weekend, including a fun drag show featuring a roast of one of the house Queens. We also lost a friend this month and are planning a fund-raiser for his family.

Visit the Zone Web Site
O'Zone
Zone's March Face Show Flyer Design by Whee! Studios
Remebering Josh Atkinson Flyer Design by Whee! Studios
Design Spotlight / flyer design

February Flyer Collection for The Zone Dance Club

Celebrating Valentine's Day

Zone Dance Club has teamed up with Whee! Studios to create some unique flyers promoting their Valentine’s Day offerings. These flyers feature bold designs that capture the energy of the events while still expressing the spirit of love and acceptance that is so important at Zone Dance Club. They showcase the month's upcoming Drag shows as well as a special Red & Black party along with a Queer Speed Dating event.

Visit the Zone Web Site
Zone's
Zone's Divas Heart Show Flyer Design by Whee! Studios
Zone's Queer Speed Dating Flyer Design by Whee! Studios
Zone's February Face Show Flyer Design by Whee! Studios
Design Spotlight / logo design

Logo Design for Erie's Zone Dance Club

New Design Helps Celebrate 25th Anniversary

Welcome to a brand new era of fabulousness at Erie's Zone Dance Club! Whee! Studios is proud to have designed a new look to help the Zone celebrate their 25th anniversary as Erie's Queer Bar. This fun, geometrric design emphasizes that the Zone strives to be a modern place for the LGBTQ+ community to express themselves and have some fun. We'll continue with the rebranding, inclusing some new merchandise, event poster designs as well as an updated web site and social media presence. Keep an eye out for exciting things to happen in 2023!

Visit the Zone Dance Club Web Site
Zone Dance Club Erie Logo Design by Whee! Studios
The Zone Dance Club Celebrates 25 Years by Whee! Studios
Design Spotlight / logo design

New Logo Design and Branding for NWPA Pride Alliance

A New Identity for a New Future

For over ten years, NWPA Pride Alliance has been fighting for visibility and creating a sense of community for members of the LGBTQ+ population in northwestern Pennsylvania. We have seen amazing growth in everything from our annual events to the people being more active in the community, but now it's time to take things to the next level - introducing an exciting new logo design and branding! This fresh look is both modern and timeless, showing off our bold spirit alongside elements that represent both progress and tradition. Our goal with this rebrand is not only to celebrate who we are as a collective queer identity today, but also reflect on how far we've come since NWPA Pride began its journey.

Visit the NWPA Pride Web Site
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Design Spotlight / logo design

Logo Design for Erie Gay News

NWPA Queer Newsletter Gets New Branding

Whee! Studios is delighted to have created the new logo design for Erie Gay News! The refreshed brand identity is a modern update to their original aesthetic, with bold and vibrant colors that illustrate the voice of advocacy for LGBTQ+ folks in northwest Pennsylvania. This milestone marks an important period of growth and evolution for both EGN and its mission to provide news, resources, and support on all issues pertinent to the NWPA queer community.

Visit the EGN Web Site
Design Spotlight / Occupations

I Respect the Thin Red Line for My Fire Fighter ...

Show Your Love and Support for Your Fire Fighter Family

A variation of my 'thin line' designs, this one helps to honor the fire fighters in your life. Family and friends who are first responders of any kind deserve to be recognized and with this fun design you can do just that.

We've got the whole family from mom and dad, to siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews. We even cover your BFF.

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Design Spotlight / attitude

Available for Curbside Pick Up

Get This Fun Design to Help Curb Those Quarantine Cravings

I made this design to resemble chalk writing on a blackboard. The kind of thing you see outside a restaurant or cafe that might offer curb side pick up.

There is some intentional innuendo that perhaps YOU might be available for curbside pickup. Get his design on a variety of clothing, masks, and other items. They make great gifts for that thirsty friend who is always on the prowl.

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Se more of this design at...
Design Spotlight / LGBTQ Pride

NWPA Virtual Pride T-Shirts

NWPA Virtual Pride T-Shirts

NWPA Pride Alliance is unable to hold their annual Pride events this year because of COVID-19. As the winner of their t-shirt design contest for the last 3 years, they asked me if I was willing to partner with them this year to create a design that we could sell exclusively online. I was of course thrilled to help!

The design selected includes two bands of assorted LGBTQIA+ Pride Flags circling a digital representation of the world. Now more than ever we need to come together while staying apart. A portion of all sales of this design on any of the MANY products being offered goes to NWPA Pride Alliance, Inc. in north western Pennsylvania.

Check out all of the products here
NWPA Virtual Pride T-Shirts
NWPA Virtual Pride T-Shirts
NWPA Virtual Pride T-Shirts
NWPA Virtual Pride T-Shirts

whee /(h)wē/

interj.

an exclamation of joy, thrill, etc.

design /dɪzaɪn/

verb

to plan and fashion the form and structure of an object, work of art, decorative scheme, etc.

pride /praɪd/

noun

a sense of the respect that other people have for you, and that you have for yourself.

geek /gēk/

noun Slang.

a knowledgeable and obsessive enthusiast.