Our Story

About iPlaid

Susan Fielder, founder of iPlaid

A Hopeful Cure for Pancreatic Cancer Through Art

Let me introduce you to iPlaid. You can help make a difference!

My purpose with iPlaid is to build a global platform that will generate significant research funding that ultimately leads to a cure for pancreatic cancer.

iPlaid is a force and the acronym is "Intuitive Passion Launches an Inner Discovery" ! My husband, Dan Mears, remains the guiding light for this endeavor!

My husband was taken by this disease and it shook me to the core. While dealing with his loss, I pondered on what I could do to make a difference. I started doodling on my iPad and created a plaid piece. It seemed so obvious I should call this piece iPlaid for Steve Jobs, as he was the technical wizard that changed all of our lives with Apple and was also lost to the same killer. So iPlaid was born, and on behalf of the many who have departed because of this silent killer, we can now make a difference together.

Pancreatic cancer knows no boundaries. It is a silent killer residing in your body way before the first clue. The creation of whimsical, fun, colorful, and uniquely named art happened to me in processing what my soulmate was experiencing. It is my hope that you will place the energy of these pieces in your home, office, or as a gift, knowing you are a part of the journey too in making a difference for researchers who are working so hard on finding a cure for pancreatic cancer.

My company donates to researchers designated through my work with UCSD, Sanford Burnham, PanCAN, and AskiCan. So far, over $160K has been raised from generous supporters, which went directly to researchers. It is my hope that this will become a brand known around the world that benefits and creates awareness of those lives lost but honored through art... Forever!

It is time to put an end to pancreatic cancer. 68,000 lives are lost annually. It is the second biggest killer. I do hope you will share this opportunity and encourage others to help fund researchers with me. Feel free to contact me personally at 858 395-8466 or email susan@susanfielder.com. I am here to listen, learn, and truly need your help to guide this effort.

10% of all proceeds from art sales will be donated to researchers for the cure.

Thank you, Susan Fielder

Platform

iPlaid Strategic Vision & Awareness

Prepared for Susan Fielder and the iPlaid Team

iPlaid is not simply an art brand. It is a cultural awareness platform that merges art, remembrance, innovation, and emotional storytelling to help raise awareness and funding for pancreatic cancer research.

1. Core Brand Positioning

The strongest positioning for iPlaid is not "buy art to support cancer research." The stronger and more scalable message is: "Wear the story. Drive the story. Live the story. Help change the outcome."

iPlaid combines emotional storytelling, visual art, innovation, memorialization, fashion, design, and awareness into one connected ecosystem.

"Every image honors someone who changed the world. Every purchase helps change what happens next."

2. Why the iPlaid Platform is Different

  • Most pancreatic cancer campaigns lead with statistics and sadness.
  • iPlaid leads with beauty, emotion, memory, creativity, and hope.
  • The platform transforms grief into visibility and cultural engagement.
  • It creates emotional participation rather than passive donations.
  • It bridges art, science, and storytelling in a way few organizations do.

3. Strategic Pharma Partnership Approach

Pharmaceutical and biotech companies should not be approached merely as sponsors of art. They should be approached as strategic collaborators in patient awareness and emotional engagement.

"iPlaid is a patient-awareness and emotional engagement platform that helps humanize the pancreatic cancer journey through art, storytelling, and public visibility."

  • Early detection awareness campaigns
  • Patient and survivor storytelling
  • Research fundraising collaborations
  • Co-branded educational exhibits
  • Limited edition awareness collections
  • Conference and event partnerships

4. The Steve Jobs Connection

The origin story of iPlaid naturally aligns with Steve Jobs through the creation of the first plaid artwork on an iPad and the shared connection to pancreatic cancer.

Any outreach to the Jobs family or related foundations should be mission-driven, respectful, and non-commercial in tone.

The emphasis should be on honoring visionary lives, advancing awareness, and creating hope through innovation and creativity.

5. Recommended Brand Direction

  • Luxury awareness with emotional meaning
  • Museum-quality storytelling and exhibitions
  • Collectible art and limited-edition apparel
  • Immersive installations and experiential events
  • Automotive art collaborations
  • Research-focused fundraising initiatives
  • International expansion through digital storytelling

6. Recommended Next Steps

  1. Create a formal advisory board with medical and strategic advisors
  2. Establish a flagship institutional partner (UCSD is ideal)
  3. Develop a short cinematic brand film
  4. Build an "In Memoriam" exhibition series
  5. Create strategic media outreach and documentary storytelling
  6. Develop partnerships with research organizations and biotech companies
  7. Expand into multilingual and interactive digital experiences

Closing Vision

The power of iPlaid is not the plaid itself. The power is the transformation of grief into visibility, awareness, beauty, hope, and collective action. This platform has the potential to become a globally recognized movement that connects art, innovation, and medical progress in a deeply human way.

Join the Mission

Together we can change the statistics, support families, and fund the research that will save lives.

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