It wasn’t just Covid-19… a lot of other bad s**t happened in 2020. January’s Australian bushfires killed more than three billion animals. The UK and the EU broke up for good. The USA experienced one of its most important elections. And countless events highlighted the negativity and racism that continues to infect our world.
This is not counting on all the personal tragedies. Be it the loss of loved ones, jobs, canceled weddings, missed births, and other meaningful events. As well as the significantly reduced opportunities to have drinks with our friends.
For me personally, this year had a fire in my favorite childhood zoo in stock (killing 50 animals), as well as a family member being diagnosed with cancer, and two others being injured in car crashes (including my wife). Oh, and my wedding and honeymoon got canceled. But I can look past that. And also past the fact that I didn’t have any income at all for half a year.
So. To help myself and the rest of the world to get through all of this, I decided to turn this absolute mess of a year on its head and create something weirdly positive. Tough task? Probably. But please bear with me.
More info: kickstarter.com
2021: Things can only get better
I created the “2021: Things can only get better”—a calendar designed to remind everyone that in 2021 the only way is up. And by up, I don’t mean up like many nukes launching left, right, and center. Or the undead rising from their graves to haunt the living for their delicious brains. Fingers crossed anyways.
Spoiler alert. There are no puppies, no kittens, no inspirational quotes, or black and white photos of spiritual leaders. Nah. I decided to show you the ugly truth from 2020 and remind you just how bad it really was.
A lot of bad things happened in January
This foldable landscape calendar doesn’t just include 12 carefully designed illustrations representing the monthly tragedies of 2020. Every calendar page will also be accompanied by many "fun" facts reminding you of all the things that went wrong on those exact dates last year.
So every day, you can look up at the calendar and be reminded: “Yup. Things could really be worse.”
Bad day, because your tinder date stood you up? At least you’re allowed to meet another human being face to face. You didn’t get that promotion you were hoping for? Be grateful you still have a job. You only have back-row tickets to see your favorite band? Better than no gigs at all.
Australia's bushfires killed more than 3 billion animals
I can’t promise we won’t face total nuclear annihilation or an alien invasion next year, but I’m hoping for the best. There’s a good chance this calendar will help you realize that whatever happens next year, it could always be worse.
Because the year is still going strong and the bad news seems to be piling up, the calendar is not finished yet. Over the next few weeks, I am finalizing the designs and carefully curating more of the greatest worst facts of 2020 to ship the calendar in time for the holiday season.
Remember March, when we first met the pandemic?
Bear in mind: If a global robot attack (or similar) does occur on New Year’s Eve, I won't be able to reflect this event in the calendar. Sorry, but no satisfaction guarantee if the end of the world messes up December.
And because our planet is already in a bad enough place, I am working together with a local, family-run printing company and purely using recycled paper for this calendar. Additionally, I have offset the entire carbon footprint that production and shipping will cause.
Fingers crossed for a better 2021!
In April there were more than 1 million cases of Covid-19
June saw a locust pest like never before
This is what the calendar mockup looks like
In February Trump got acquitted, but looks like he'll be gone soon anyway
The tragic killing of George Floyd lead to global outcry against racism and police brutality
Most people probably haven’t even heard of this disaster
A terrible accident in Beirut shocks the world
