"Everything is Bad" is an on-going project that pairs whimsical illustrations with depressing captions about the increasingly depressing world we live in. A significant part of the project is the fundraising element: all of the profits from "Everything is Bad" products are donated to different causes on a revolving basis depending on what depressing news is going on at the moment. Past recipients of "Everything is Bad" donations are RAINN, The National Network of Abortion Funds, and The Rainforest Alliance. All of this is done in an effort to make things "a little less bad." Currently, the project lives on Instagram @EverythingsBad.
The original illustration that started the whole project
The project began as a single illustration: a little smiley face character with the caption "everything is bad." That single image grew into a short zine. Following the success of the zine, I decided to keep it going as an Instagram-based illustration project.
The original batch of illustrations were watercolors, eventually, the medium became less strict and digital illustration and animation were brought in. The format always remained consistent.
By the third zine, the format had shifted: rather than keep churning out zines that mirrored the Instagram, the project had evolved into the post card series. The post card format keeps the traditional "Everything is Bad" format, but lets each piece live on its own rather than being confined to a little book. They were printed on a Risograph to give each piece some character, and preserve some of the imperfections that made the original water colors so successful.
"Everything is Bad" postcards in a retail display at a local stationary store.
