BY the way

This project holds a special place in my heart, as it was inspired by my twin sister Ellie who has special needs. By the Way and Brewing Brighter was my take on how to make a better world for adults with intellectual disabilities. Many of the known resources for adults with special needs end at age 22, leaving parents and guardians without clear next steps, searching for the best fit for their child, with little to no help. By the Way was an attempt and alleviating this problem through creating a website with work, hiring, living, and financial resources to assist in next steps. Moreover, Brewing Brighter was the physical representation of this concept, being a coffee shop that hires special needs adults, brings community together, and provides classes to bring parents together from one another and professionals.

All of the work consists of a bright color scheme, indicative of the energy and joy these adults bring to the community, as well as a nod to intellectual disability advocacy. I was also able to put a piece of Ellie in this project by using many of her illustrations and illustrations inspired by her, one of which being the smiley face logo. Education was also a big part of this project, so you will see in many of the pieces, jarring facts pertaining to adults with disabilities hoping to bring education and a new perspective to the world.

Though this is a hypothetical place, hopefully it will one day be real! This project was made with blood sweat and tears, and though there were MANY ups and downs, I am excited about how it turned out and I hope you like it just as much as I do!