The Icarus Project is a collective organization/community for those with mental disorders, especially bipolar. Their philosophy is based on the Greek myth of Icarus flying too close to the sun.
I absolutely love this sticker they made. The flying birds, turning words, and concentric circles create a feeling of perpetual movement. The repetition and alternation of positive and negative space creates rhythm and unity. The white negative space in the phrase "you are not alone" almost mimics and is at least consistent with the shape of the birds. Although I love how much is going on, I can admit that it is bordering on too much. What component is the viewer supposed to look at first? The birds and the phrase "you are not alone" compete for space. Even the positive and negative space compete for attention. In the phrase "you are not alone" this is especially evident where the two Es meet and create a complex negative space shape. All in all I think this sticker is successful. I feel a sense of community due to the concentric circles and the handwritten text. In addition, the birds are uplifting. Balance and interest has been achieved even if element competition has created conflict. Maybe this sticker is not meant to have harmony.
As you said, this image is definitely bordering on too much. The lettering around the birds is almost unreadable. It is almost painful to look at because your eye gets lost in the many shapes created by the negative space. You have to be careful when you use all caps- The reason upper and lower cases were invented was to make writing easier to read.
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