“All my life I’ve had an aversion to athletics. My least favourite kind? Racing.

Yet, there have been times in my life I have been forced to race

Sports carnivals at school were hell, and I couldn’t wait to opt out of the mandatory racing. Upon leaving school, I was appalled to find out that the worst mandatory race of all was yet to be run… The rat race.

This art work is an aspirational day dream, where it’s possible to opt out, relax and rise above the chaos below. Nobody can force you to race! (Except for maybe the ATO)”

Tee colour: Sunset

“For me, the challenge from this brief was how I would depict the "upside" if I didn't also show the "downside," as the two define each other. This led to creating a set of emotionally and spatially opposite characters. The "downside" is a space of worry and hesitation, while the "upside" is a place of impulsiveness and joy.

The "upside" is inspired by Hieronymus Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights, which is a scene of indulgence and debauchery. I wanted to echo this energy through weird, playful characters who are being a bit reckless, but in a silly and innocent way.

I love simple visual metaphors and the ladder was one of the first things I sketched. Here, it's a pathway into wild freedom, but I also wanted it to suggest something bigger: that changing the world you inhabit is possible if you just take that first (and often scary) step toward something new.”

Tee colour: Ecru

“To me, the "upside" is all about that feeling of being confident in who you are—and having your finances in a good place doesn't hurt either! I leaned into a whimsical style to reflect that sense of freedom and happiness that comes when things are looking up.

A key part of the design is Tobu Hime—a playful character I created who represents the imaginative, confident version of the self. She's light, expressive, and full of life, embodying that inner spark we feel when we're truly on the "upside." Through her, I wanted to personify the joy, self-belief, and creativity that come with feeling grounded and secure.

Bright, complementary colours help bring that energy to life. They add vibrancy, contrast, and a playful mood that supports the overall feeling of optimism. The quirky, imaginative elements throughout the piece are there to make you smile and tap into that carefree, creative vibe.

In the end, I wanted the design to feel fun, uplifting, and maybe even a little magical—like the world just feels better when you're feeling good about yourself and your place in it.”

Tee colour: Cocoa

“Cosmo is an illustrator, tattooist and musician from St.Kilda, Naarm. He works with many mediums but for this design he has used illustration processed through an old photocopier. The top image is a strip mine and the bottom is a Eucalyptus tree.

It’s all well and good looking on the UPside of life - so long as life still has a future. Currently we are hurtling towards a future where this will not be the case. I chose to draw attention to Up’s efforts to slow this process by not joining in the funding of earth killing investments such as mining. As individuals, our power may be limited, but we can push corporations to take meaningful action on the climate crisis.”

Tee colour: Ecru

“My response to the prompt "Life is Better on the Upside" is shown through a portrait of a confident young Black woman embracing the untapped possibility of her night ahead. Even when we've had a tough day grinding it out there's always the possibility of leaving it all behind after hours. There is always something magical about the moment we leave our duties behind to seek out fun, friends and possibility.

Here, the nighttime represents a space where all the rules change—where we can flip our perspective and see life from its best angle. "Evening Time" celebrates choosing the upside of life—making a deliberate decision to seek joy and let our true selves shine, which is really the ultimate form of freedom.”

Tee colour: Orchid