Choose to Include: A Graphic Design Asset for Crafts and Creative Projects
As a professional graphic designer with years of experience working on branding, packaging, and social media campaigns for small businesses and creative entrepreneurs, I often find myself vetting design assets before recommending them for client use. Recently, I reviewed Choose to Include, a set of graphics that immediately caught my attention for its versatility and emotional resonance. Here’s how it stacks up in the real-world context of a design project.
A Warm and Inclusive Visual Language
The first thing I noticed about Choose to Include is its soft, approachable aesthetic. The designs are crafted with a clear intention to inspire positivity and connection — a perfect fit for projects centered around community, inclusivity, and personal expression. Whether you're designing for an educational brand, a children's line, or a local event promoting diversity, this asset brings a gentle yet impactful visual tone.
The style blends hand-drawn elements with clean digital lines, giving it a modern handmade feel. It doesn’t lean too heavily into any one trend, which makes it adaptable across different platforms and audiences. The color palette feels intentional and balanced, avoiding overly saturated tones while still being vibrant enough to stand out in print-on-demand or social media visuals.
Practical Applications Across Multiple Media
Logo Design & Brand Identity: While Choose to Include isn't a font per se, the stylistic consistency of its illustrations can complement custom typography effectively. For a boutique or handmade business aiming for a warm, inviting logo, these graphics could serve as supporting elements or even be stylized into a unique mark.
Packaging Design: This design asset shines when applied to product labels, tags, or gift wrap. Its layered structure allows for depth and dimension, making it ideal for creating visually engaging packaging details. I tested it on a mockup for a small organic snack brand, and it added just the right amount of personality without overwhelming the minimalist base design.
Printable Designs & Papercrafts: One of the standout features of Choose to Include is its compatibility with papercrafts. As someone who frequently works with Cricut users and Etsy shops, I appreciate how the non-layered and layered versions offer flexibility for die-cutting, scrapbooking, or DIY kits. The clarity of each element ensures crisp cuts and easy assembly, which is essential for user-friendly printable products.
Social Media Graphics: These files work beautifully for Instagram posts, Pinterest pins, and Facebook flyers. They add a touch of inspiration and authenticity, especially when used as background accents or hero graphics in seasonal campaigns. The layered nature of some designs also allows for subtle customization — swapping colors or adding text overlays — which is key for maintaining brand identity while keeping content fresh.
Merchandise & Sublimation: I’ve seen many sublimation designs fall flat due to low contrast or poor scalability. Choose to Include avoids those pitfalls. The designs hold their form well when printed on t-shirts, mugs, and tote bags, and they maintain legibility at both large and small sizes. This makes them a solid choice for merchandise collections targeting parents, educators, or coaches looking to spread motivational messages through wearable art.
Where This Design Asset Excels
- Large Layout Areas: The detailed composition of Choose to Include thrives in bigger spaces like posters, banners, or website headers. It adds richness and visual interest where simpler designs might feel sparse.
- Hero Graphics: When used as a central image in a design layout, this asset draws attention and supports the overall message of inclusivity and encouragement.
- Product Mockups: Whether you're showcasing a new line of stickers or planning a campaign for a creative marketplace listing, this graphic enhances the perceived quality and thoughtfulness of your offerings.
- Themed Collections: It’s particularly effective in themed design bundles, such as back-to-school promotions, holiday campaigns, or self-care sets. The cohesive look ties everything together without feeling repetitive.
- Editorial & Campaign Work: From blog headers to newsletter templates, this asset brings a sense of warmth and creativity that resonates well with lifestyle brands and content creators.
Use With Caution in Certain Contexts
Despite its strengths, there are scenarios where Choose to Include may not be the best fit. For example:
- Small Sizes: At smaller resolutions, the intricate details can become less visible or even pixelated if not properly scaled. Always preview the design at actual size before finalizing.
- Crowded Layouts: If your project already has multiple visual elements competing for attention, using this asset could lead to clutter. Use it strategically as a focal point rather than an afterthought.
- Complex Backgrounds: The asset works best on solid or minimal backgrounds. Placing it over busy textures or gradients may reduce its impact and readability.
- Minimalist Branding: While Choose to Include can support a minimalist look with careful placement, it may clash with ultra-clean brand identities that prioritize stark simplicity.
- Corporate Materials: This is more of a lifestyle or creative asset. It won’t suit formal reports, presentations, or high-end corporate brochures unless carefully adapted to fit a broader, more sophisticated design language.
Design Considerations for Real Client Use
Before integrating Choose to Include into a client project, here are some practical checks every designer should perform:
- Test in Black and White: Assess how the design holds up without color. Will it still communicate its intended mood? Is the contrast sufficient?
- Check Contrast on Light and Dark Backgrounds: Some elements may lose their definition depending on the background tone. Try placing the asset on both light and dark mockups to ensure adaptability.
- Preview at Small and Large Sizes: Confirm that the asset remains legible and retains its visual integrity across all scales. This is especially important for digital ads and social media thumbnails.
- Place on Real Mockups: Apply the design to actual product images (like apparel or stationery) to see how it looks in practice. This helps avoid assumptions based solely on digital previews.
- Test Print Quality: If the project involves physical prints, verify the resolution and file format to ensure no loss in quality during production.
- Review File Formats: The presence of layered and non-layered PNGs is a big plus. Inspect SVG files if vector editing is required, ensuring paths are editable and scalable without distortion.
- Compare with Other Fonts: Pair the design with various typefaces — serif, sans-serif, script, display — to determine what combinations feel most harmonious and professional.
- Confirm Commercial Licensing: Always review the licensing agreement before using any design asset for commercial purposes. Make sure it covers the intended use cases like print-on-demand, web design, and resale of finished products.
Bridging the Gap Between Craft and Commerce
What sets Choose to Include apart is its ability to bridge the gap between craft-oriented aesthetics and professional design standards. It’s not just clipart; it’s a curated illustration set that can elevate both digital and physical creative outputs. For designers working with clients in the crafts space — whether it's a handmade business launching a new product line or a coach building branded materials — this asset offers a reliable foundation for visual storytelling.
In one recent case, I used Choose to Include to enhance the branding of a small nonprofit focused on inclusive education. The graphics were used in flyer headers, social media posts, and sticker designs for volunteers. The result was a cohesive and uplifting visual identity that resonated with the target audience while maintaining a level of professionalism expected from an organization of that nature.
Emotional Appeal and Audience Engagement
One of the most powerful aspects of this design is its emotional appeal. The imagery feels welcoming and supportive, which is crucial for brands that want to build trust and foster engagement. Whether it’s a Canva template for a teacher’s classroom resources or a web banner for a wellness blog, the asset communicates empathy and positivity — two qualities that are hard to replicate with generic stock images.
It also supports brand recognition by offering consistent motifs and symbols that can be reused across different touchpoints. This repetition strengthens the visual identity of the brand, making it more memorable for the audience.
Final Thoughts for Designers and Digital Sellers
If you're a designer or digital seller working on a project that leans into the themes of inclusion, education, or personal growth, Choose to Include is worth considering. Its layered structure gives you control over how you present the design, and the variety of formats ensures compatibility with most tools and workflows, including Cricut and other cutting machines.
However, always remember to tailor the asset to your specific design goals. Don’t let it dominate the visual hierarchy if it compromises clarity or professionalism. Think of it as a supporting element that can help reinforce the message behind your creative work — especially when paired with thoughtful typography and layout planning.
For those exploring design assets in the Graphics and Crafts category, Choose to Include stands out as a versatile option that can enhance both handmade and digital projects. Just make sure to test, adjust, and align it with your brand’s voice before finalizing its use in a client deliverable or commercial product.
