spACE Merch for Emotional Design

This project utilized the Four Pleasures framework to explore opportunities for connection for a community often burdened by loneliness.

Asexuality is defined by a consistent lack of sexual attraction and/or libido. A frequently misunderstood and “invisible” orientation, it’s often been overlooked in the broader LGBTQ rights movement.

To better understand this community, I began with informal research, exploring online Ace communities and educational networks. Threads revealed members’ feelings of loneliness, invalidation, and pressure to conform or bury their identity.  

Community members often described feeling broken or isolated, growing up in spaces where their peers showed attraction. Others described being rebuffed by loved ones when they tried to open up. The underlying message was simple: People were looking for connection where they couldn’t find it in their daily lives.

I conducted a survey and interviews to hear directly from people, and explored current options for the Ace community to connect. While online communities were popular, Ace-only dating apps were lackluster at best. Many Aces felt best meeting in person or through groups. Surprisingly, respondents to my survey were overwhelmingly interested in more Ace-pride themed merchandise, that felt authentic but not too overt. Trend research using Erank.com and Google Trends confirmed growing demand for “subtle pride” products, for which existing merchandise often missed the mark:

Originally, I doubted that this route was a direct enough answer to the problem I set out to solve. I spoke to one of my interview subjects for some feedback, who validated this route:

SpACE is a concept Ace pride line designed to integrate the “subtle pride” message with current trends popular with the main demographics of my survey respondents. SpACE takes inspiration from nostalgic Y2K / digital retro and other ‘90s/‘2000s styles and integrates Ace community symbols and colors:

The final designs for SpACE cover on several of the trending styles in young adult apparel:

Subtle pride

Asexual / aromantic merch

Positivity / Affirmations

Warped text

Puns and irony

I’m actively refining this concept, recognizing a continuing demand for Ace merchandise, especially subtle pride items that remain unmet online. My upcoming steps involve focused research on demographics, pricing, sourcing, aesthetics, materials, and staying updated with trending preferences to align my product offerings with demand. I deeply enjoyed this project and gained a deeper understanding of apparel and merchandise as ways to form connection.

Thanks to “Bev” and “Angela”, my interview subjects