MOO x Agnes Art Shop: how Stickers are helping shelter dogs find homes

There’s something about Stickers that immediately brings out a lighter, playful and childlike side of people. Placed on laptops, Water Bottles, car bumpers and Notebooks, we’re all obsessed with them, and in many ways they’re an extension of our values and individuality. But what if Stickers were used to create change instead?

Designer, illustrator and founder Agnes Pierscieniak did just that. She identified an urgent need in her community and used her skill set to solve a problem. This is how Portraits with Purpose was born.

Stickers as a tool to drive change

When Agnes started volunteering at Napa County Animal Shelter, she was confronted with a heartbreaking reality: healthy shelter dogs were being euthanised simply because there wasn’t enough space. As a designer and illustrator, she wondered how she could use her creativity to help.

What began as coloring books and Postcards soon evolved into MOO DieCut Stickers. Small enough to hand out, collectible enough to keep, they became a simple way to help every dog stand out. “I wanted to give each one its own identity and story beyond a kennel photo,” Agnes explained.

“People love stickers. They’re small, portable, collectible, and something people genuinely want to keep.”

Although she’d never designed Stickers before, the format immediately clicked. “People love Stickers. They’re small, portable, collectible, and something people genuinely want to keep.”

Designing at a smaller scale also challenged Agnes creatively, pushing her to simplify each illustration while making every dog’s personality shine through.

Designed to be shared

When the Stickers arrived, Agnes noticed something. People didn’t just look at them. They picked them up, smiled and started asking questions. 

“What started as another printed piece quickly became one of the most powerful tools for getting people to stop, smile, and start conversations about adoption. I think that’s what makes physical objects so special – they have a different emotional life than digital posts.”

The reaction is often the same: “Wait… this dog is actually available for adoption?”

The Die Cut Stickers became these little collectible objects that people actually want to keep. There’s something about their size and quality that makes them feel special. That staying power is what makes print different. Instead of disappearing after a few seconds, a Sticker continues to introduce people to a dog’s story long after they’ve seen an Instagram post.

Using AI as a creative collaborator

Agnes’ work is very hands-on and uses techniques like printmaking, alcohol inks and dyes, but for Portraits with Purpose she also embraced AI as part of her creative process. “I don’t use it to replace my ideas,” she says. “I use it almost like a creative collaborator or a junior designer.”

Using AI helped Agnes transform ordinary shelter photos into illustrations that felt vibrant, hopeful and emotionally engaging, while keeping each dog instantly recognisable. “That balance was really important,” she explains. “I never wanted to lose the authenticity of the dog. I simply wanted people to notice them.”

Design that makes (a real) difference

Design is so much more than something that’s nice to look at. Beyond functionality, quality and finish, great design connects, cultivates change and solves a problem. “I hope people see that design can make a real difference. I’ve always believed that it can tell stories in service of solving a problem. In this case, the problem is that shelter dogs aren’t being seen,” she said. 

Agnes set out to challenge herself creatively, connect with her community, and most importantly, make sure that each shelter dog is accurately and powerfully represented on each Sticker. “Rather than simply creating portraits, I tried to build a little world around each dog. Some became inspired by Napa itself,” Agnes told us.

The project has also shown Agnes the value of creative collaboration. “MOO helped bring these designs into the world, and I’d love to see more partners join the effort.”

Whether you’re building your brand, supporting your community or bringing a creative idea to life, the right printed product can help your story travel further.

If you’d like to drive real change with your design, reach out to us by filling out the form below.