Losing Everything, Gaining Even More: The Start of a New Chapter
By Darcy, Founder of DBDesigns
Sometimes, life throws you a curveball you never saw coming. After spending two and a half years building the DBDesigns Instagram community—sharing over 1,300 original football shirt designs and connecting with nearly 19,000 followers—I lost access to my account overnight. Just like that, years of work, creativity, and community vanished.
But while the account is gone, my passion and purpose remain.
The Journey So Far
DBDesigns began as a simple idea: to share my love for football and design by creating concept kits and posting them online. I never tried to profit off others’ brands or infringe on copyrights—I just wanted to showcase creativity and connect with fellow fans. Over time, I found myself working harder than most, posting twice a day, every day, for nearly three years. Each design took 30 to 60 minutes, adding up to over 2,000 hours of dedication.
The response was incredible. In May alone, my posts reached 1.3 million unique viewers and racked up more than 3.4 million impressions. The community grew beyond anything I could have imagined, and I was even approached by a Champions League club about potential design collaborations.
Starting Over—But Not From Zero
Losing the Instagram account was heartbreaking. I’d planned to use that audience to launch the next phase of DB Designs: creating and selling original shirts under my own brand, with a strong social mission at the core. Now, with my main platform gone, I have to rebuild from scratch.
But here’s the thing: while I lost the account, I didn’t lose the knowledge, experience, or drive that got me here. The lessons I’ve learned about consistency, creativity, and community are still with me. No one can take that away.
Introducing: The DB Designs Chronicles
This moment marks the beginning of a new chapter—one I’m calling the “DB Designs Chronicles.” I’ll be documenting the journey of rebuilding the brand, sharing the highs and lows, the experiments and the lessons learned. This is me at my lowest, but also at my most determined.
I want to bring you—my community—along for the ride. Your ideas, feedback, and support will help shape the future of DB Designs. Whether you’re here for the designs, the mission, or just the story, I invite you to join me as we build something even better together.
What’s Next?
I’ll be sharing regular updates on the business, the creative process, and the challenges of starting over.
I want your input! Comment with your thoughts, ideas, or even just to say hello. Every bit of engagement helps.
Expect new shirt designs, collaborations, and more ways to get involved with the DB Designs mission.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Losing everything means I have everything to gain—and I’m ready to build something truly special, with you by my side.
Stay tuned for the next chapter.
Want to get involved or see the latest designs? Explore the shop and join the DB Designs community today.
