What Chappell Roan and Book Bedazzling Taught Me About Pride (and the Power of Creative Identity)

This Pride season, I found myself in a glitter-strewn rabbit hole of plastic gems, craft glue, and bold eyeliner — and I have Chappell Roan to thank. If you haven’t seen her yet, imagine theatrical glam, unapologetic queerness, and pop performance at its most electrified. Watching her transform the stage into a space of fierce joy and vulnerability reminded me why Pride matters — and, unexpectedly, what I’ve always known deep down as a designer: visibility is power, and self-expression is a form of activism.

Photo by Peter Burka

So what does Chappell Roan have to do with bedazzling books? Well, it started with a simple idea — bringing a little sparkle to the SEA of Visibility “Pride n’ Shine” event, where I updated the website and refreshed the branding to celebrate queer creativity. Inspired by Roan’s hyper-visual storytelling, I decided to make an interactive art piece: a table of discarded books ready to be “reclaimed” with rhinestones and craft glue. It became a metaphor — and a celebration.

Reclaiming Stories, One Gem at a Time

As a designer with years of experience, I’m no stranger to transformation. I’ve rebranded fitness companies, given websites for veterans’ orgs a second life, and created marketing content for everything from Amish furniture to LGBTQIA+ art shows. But there was something profoundly personal about watching queer youth take old books and give them new meaning — turning the ordinary into something radiant. It echoed what I’ve always tried to do professionally: help people see themselves in the work. Help brands (and individuals) tell truer stories.

Book bedazzling wasn’t about glitter for glitter’s sake. It was about making space — tactile, visual, unapologetic space — for queer joy, play, and authorship. Just like Chappell Roan’s lyrics, it said, “This is who I am. Look closer.”

The Professional is Personal

As someone who’s designed for both real estate agents and poets, I’ve learned that identity isn’t a liability — it’s your brand. Whether I’m building a website for a disabled veterans’ camping nonprofit like Mobility Mountain or curating illustrations for a long-form poem by Kathy Rudd, I bring all of myself to the work: my queer lens, my artistic instincts, my UX logic, and yes — my sparkly side.

That’s what Pride taught me again this year: the most powerful designs come from the most authentic places.

From Pixels to Pride Flags

Designing for queer-centered initiatives like SEA of Visibility or the Mosaic LGBTQA+ Gallery Show isn’t just another client win — it’s a homecoming. It’s where my visual skills meet my lived experience. It’s where I don’t have to tone anything down. Instead, I get to turn it up — in color palettes, in web layouts, in content strategy. I get to say: here’s a world that makes space for you.

And yes, sometimes that world includes a glittered-up copy of an old "Kiki's Delivery Service". Because Pride isn’t just a parade. It’s a practice — of making, showing up, and shining.

So what did Chappell Roan and craft glue teach me?

That whether you’re on stage, behind a laptop, or covered in rhinestones, embracing who you are isn’t just powerful — it’s magnetic.