Art of Disability Festival Logo Contest
Connor Hirtle, logo contest winner, talks to ILNS about creativity, coronavirus, and keeping life in perspective. Thank you to all who submitted and shared!
Tell me about your design. Why did you make these creative choices?
Logo design has always been a fun hobby of mine, especially since I’ve become a quadriplegic. The person in the wheelchair and the person standing reflect that disabilities come in all shapes and sizes, and the wording faded in the background reflect the ILNS mission.
How did you get into graphic design?
I’ve always been into drawing and art ever since I was little. I would have sketchbooks that I’d draw in steady, especially NHL players and goaltenders. I also took art throughout high school. Since my injury I've transitioned into creating logos for many different events, teams, brands, etc. And have slowly been getting better on it by learning new ways to create on my iPad.
What are your coronavirus coping strategies?
I’m a very social butterfly so during the coronavirus, not being able to see my friends has been difficult. I’ve been coping by being able to Zoom call, Houseparty, and FaceTime my friends when we can to catch up one on one or in a group call. I’ve also been watching a lot of series on Netflix/Crave and trying my best to keep up with my fitness.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
This is one I’ve thought of a lot and I know what I tell myself now is definitely different from what I would have told myself when I was able bodied 5 years ago. I would tell myself to not take anything for granted. Life is so much more than we realize and sometimes a life altering scenario has to happen to make us open our eyes and grasp how fortunate we are as human beings. If there is an opportunity to do something exciting or something you’d never thought you’d be doing, do it. Trust me, you’d much rather say “That was the most amazing experience” or “I can’t believe I did that” rather than “I wish I would have done that”.
Stay tuned for an announcement regarding this year's Art of Disability Festival.
