Attention, Connection, & Information by Higher RES Visuals

This shirt design is my playful yet meaningful tribute to internet culture through the lens of early 2000s nostalgia. Titled "Attention, Connection, & Information," the piece explores three major aspects of the internet: connecting with others, seeking attention and entertainment, and consuming information — all personified through hand-drawn characters I created.The characters were inspired by a mix of influences I grew up loving: Nerds candy and the quirky Space Jam aliens, combined with pop-culture energy. The Information character (right) gives a subtle nod to Squints from The Sandlot — curious, wide-eyed, a little nerdy but full of heart. The Attention/Entertainment character (left) was influenced by Clueless — confident, polished, and socially savvy. The Connection character (center) is longing and expressive, reaching out for a real friendship.The square black frames around the characters reference the checkerboard print trend from the Y2K era — a design element that shaped my visual taste growing up. It also mirrors the grid-like format of social media feeds. The characters feel like avatars in an early-2000s AOL chatroom or MySpace profile — where you logged on to find your people, be seen, and learn something new.The bubble letter font was chosen to evoke that same early-2000s spirit — bold, bubbly, almost like something you'd doodle on a notebook in 8th grade. The phrase "Be Kind Online" is the heart of this design. In a digital world that can be chaotic, performative, or just straight-up mean, I wanted to create a wearable reminder that kindness should always lead the conversation.This design is fun on the surface — but it carries a message. Whether we’re connecting, performing, or learning — we all have a responsibility to each other. My hope is that people wear this shirt not just for the nostalgia or the humor, but for the culture shift it encourages.— Riley of Higher RES Visuals