At Parasol, design has never been just about how something looks. It’s about how it feels—to parents, to babies, and to the moments in between.
Our original Size 1 artwork featured butterflies and soft grasses. For us, it symbolized one of the most profound transformations in nature: life beginning from within, growing unseen, and eventually emerging into the world. The butterfly’s journey—from cocoon to flight—felt deeply aligned with the earliest stage of parenthood. New life. Fragility. Possibility.
We loved that story.
But as Parasol has grown, so has our understanding that design doesn’t live in isolation. It lives in homes, in nurseries, in midnight diaper changes, and in the emotions parents carry while caring for someone impossibly small and precious.
Over time, we heard from parents—particularly parents of baby boys—who shared that the butterfly illustration felt “too girly” to them. While animals and nature, to us, exist beautifully beyond gender, we learned that design doesn’t land the same way for everyone. It can carry meaning that’s deeply personal, even when unintended.
And in the newborn stage, emotions sit right at the surface.
Every detail feels amplified.
Every choice feels symbolic.
What we momentarily overlooked was not the beauty of the butterfly, but how parents project meaning onto design when it’s wrapped around their baby.
Design doesn’t stop at intention. It continues in interpretation. And listening is part of designing well.
So we paused. We reflected. And we asked ourselves: How can we honor the spirit of Size 1—new beginnings, gentleness, awe—while creating something that feels universally comforting in such an emotionally tender stage of parenthood?
That’s when elephants and trees entered the story.
Elephants represent strength with softness. Protection without aggression. Wisdom that feels instinctual rather than learned. They are deeply connected to family, memory, and care—qualities that resonate with parents regardless of gender.
Trees, too, felt right. They symbolize grounding, growth, and roots. They remind us that even the smallest beginnings are supported by something steady and enduring.
Together, elephants and trees tell a story that feels inclusive, calming, and emotionally safe, especially during those first weeks when everything is new and tender.
At Parasol, we design with intention and humility. We learn the best products evolve not just through creativity, but through listening. When parents trust us enough to share how something makes them feel, that feedback matters.
Thank you for growing with us.
Thank you for reminding us that design is a conversation.
And thank you for trusting Parasol with your baby’s very first moments.