Designers recreate Baby on Board badges for Mother's Day

HOOP has created 6 brand new 'Baby on Board!' badges, reimagined to celebrate pregnancy and encourage people up and down the UK to "move over" for mums to be. Released ahead of Mother's Day and available to order free online, the family activity app collaborated with illustrator Marion Deuchars and graphic designers Erin Aniker and Ellie Thomas to create the new badges.

Inspired by Hoop research among 480 expectant mums that revealed 28% have felt overlooked whilst on public transport, all 6 new designs were made purposefully bright and bold, to help catch the eyes of busy commuters up and down the country.

Esteemed illustrator and mum of 2 Marion Deuchars thought back to her own pregnancies when coming up with her concepts. The 1st features her signature hand lettering in bright red whilst the 2nd shows a cartoon stork carrying a baby.

Speaking about her inspiration, she said:- "I wanted to create designs that were striking and fun and importantly, attractive enough that you'd want to wear. 1 of the things I remember about travelling whilst pregnant was that vulnerability; the fear of having a briefcase accidentally swung into me, or someone squashing me against a door. You can't have a warning sign or flashing lights on your pregnant tummy, and sometimes many women don't have a big bump, so being drawn to an eye catching badge is a good alternative!"

Illustrator and designer Erin Aniker approached her designs from a different perspective; taking inspiration from the inclusive community she grew up with in London. Both feature hands, 1 cradling the lettering and 1 featuring a loop of different nationalities. She said:- "I wanted my designs to show growth, support and solidarity. The 2nd design with the circle of hands especially focuses on this, on collective support and community and looking out for each other and each other's families and children."

Manchester based Ellie Thomas featured pregnant women in the midst of travelling. She commented:- "I wanted to strike the right balance between making the fact they are mums to be very clear and still depict them as well rounded characters with other interests; so they are reading a book or listening to music like any other commuter, the only difference is that they need a seat more than most other people. I think it can be easy for women's identities to get overshadowed by motherhood so it was important to me that these characters are their own people as well as future parents."

Max Jennings, co-founder at Hoop, adds:- "Our goal is to help get parents out of the house, have fun with their kids and generally make their lives easier. This project is an extension of that philosophy. By collaborating with 3 incredibly talented female designers, we have been able to create badges that not only look amazing but also help pregnant mums stand out when they travel. We know that mums and mums to be are powerful and all 6 designs reflect that power. Best of all, they are completely free."

ON Saturday, 23 March 2019, over 1 million people descended on London to demand to have their voices heard over Brexit. The people marching wanted the chance to vote again. The 29 March 2019, 6 days following the march, was the UK's original divorce date from the European Union, however a stream of dashed deals and political squabbling has meant that the divorce date is being revised. This political protest, however, was unlike any before. Whilst there were shouts, chants and placards of politics, there were also prams, families and musical marching bands. There was chaos, but no fighting. It had been previously reported that over 160 coaches from all of the country had come down to protest Brexit, and yet it was a calm, slow, and polite affair. As a student, I have witnessed and been a part of many political marches, from anti Trump demonstrations to reclaiming the night. However, none of those have been anything like the:- 'Put it to the People' march.

I started my day in Cambridge, and even from Cambridge train station you could already understand the magnitude of this event. The train was packed to busting with people sitting in the luggage racks or standing all the way to London. The tube was the same, swarths of people all heading to the Park Lane starting point. The beginning of the march was a sea of blue and yellow confusion. It was warm, and Marble Arch was packed. There were people all across Hyde Park, some wandering around Buckingham Palace's gates. Everyone was scrambling over a wall to get out of the park and onto the street. However, once the march started it was a lot more subdued. The march itself was more of a slow meander. We had no idea where we were in the crowd. Many people spread out at Trafalgar square, stopped for a rest or to take a photo with the lions. Continuing down, there were big screens and speakers projecting the voices of the organisers, MPs, and at 1 point, Sandi Toksvig. About a mile in, we were told that whilst the leaders of the march had already finished their 2 mile jaunt, thousands were still rearing to start back on Park Lane.  We never made it to the Houses of Parliament. We got onto Westminster bridge, and found it blocked. London does not have the space for 1,000,000+ protesters outside Parliament. Wandering back through London, evidence of the march was everywhere. There were discarded signs stuck in traffic cones and the pubs were full of families wearing blue and yellow with pride. This march was not just for 'Remainers.' It was a march for the people. For the people of the UK to say that they had had enough. The people want to be heard, they want an end to Brexit; 1 way or another. Despite the enormous turn out, there were still 2 people missing, where were Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn? What are your thoughts and views on this? Please email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com and let us know what your take is.