Defenders of Potential

Our mission is helping people defeat negative self perceptions of "can't" & "no can," in order to level up to a CAN. state of mind. We all have the "potential" to achieve a positive mindset, with the help of family, friends, and community. We sometimes take for granted the incredible people in our lives who provide us with safety and opportunities to pursue our potential.       

 For kids it's especially important that they have these protections in place. Over the last few months we have learned the importance of protecting and defending potential from our friends at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kauai  (BBBS). Well back in 2022 BBBS Kauai approached us to design a shirt and campaign to encourage more people to become mentors/  "Defenders of Potential." 

"YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CREATE POTENTIAL, YOU JUST HAVE TO DEFEND IT. WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY CREATING PROFESSIONALLY SUPPORTED, ONE-TO-ONE MATCHES FOR KIDS WHO WANT TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL." - Big Brothers Big Sisters

BBBS asked us to help by designing their 2023 t-shirt. A shirt ONLY worn by staff, Bigs (mentors), and Littles (kids). 

About the design:

Filled with stoke and honor to be in this partnership, we got inspired to take it a step further. We hosted the first ever FREE Science of CAN. camp this last summer.

We decided to task the class participants to come up with the design. Five awesome teens learned about CAN. concepts, worked with CAN. staff and others to come up with a design. The design requirements were to include BBBS concepts into the CAN. logo. 

Their first step was to interview Allegra Gains, Director of BBBS Kauai and Mentor Makani Taniguchi. They zeroed in on the BBBS brand message of "defending potential."

The next step was a meeting with local design and branding expert Jacqueline Kanna (in frame below) of J.Kanna Design .Jacqueline who helped us with our logo, Deja Vu Surf, and many others donated her time and inspiration to help the team understand how logos and brands are created and her process for making them come to life.   

The five team members (Aarya, Cole, Kili, Nia, and Travis) all wanted a design that exemplified Hawaiian protection and defense. After many different iterations they came up with the what we believe to be one of the coolest and most thoughtful designs ever linked to the CAN. brand. 

Our collective goal was to inspire involvement and future Bigs (mentors) to change a young persons life!  To get involved with BBBS on Kauai or in another city, please checkout out how to become a...  Defender of Potential