If you were assigned to design a t-shirt for your team, what would be the first step you’d take? If it involves slapping your logo or symbol with a phrase right onto the front middle of the shirt, let me stop you right there. Stay with me throughout this whole article and you will be able to design your t-shirt much better by the end of it! First off, there are several aspects we need to go over one by one. They would play important roles in making your t-shirt appeal to the public.
Designing
Where do you begin with designing t-shirts? Know who are the wearers and learn their interest. Is that it? Not really. Many people, especially youth, prefer to go with what’s in. They love following and going along with the trends. You do not only have to think about the wearers, but also the people who will look at them. Truthfully, we want our clothes to not only be attractive for us, but also for everyone around us who passes us by. Hence, the very first step you should take is, in fact, to stay up-to-date with the latest trends.
Moving on, what is the purpose of the t-shirt? Is it just to be worn casually at home as you slowly sink into the couch in front of the television? Most probably not. The t-shirt will be worn outside where it is going to attract others’ attention. Hence, there may lie other reasons behind going as far as creating one’s own t-shirt. For instance, for branding!
Branding
Anyone in the marketing and advertising industries would know that t-shirts hold a power that can immensely help with branding. It is certainly normal to want your t-shirt to serve that function too. However, do not be too straightforward when designing it and more importantly, do not overdo it. Even if you wish to create a t-shirt solely for the purpose of branding, keep the branding part subtle. Let your t-shirt do the work quietly. When drafting and sketching, try to draw attention to other elements of the design instead of what is meant for advertisement purposes such as your logo, website link, or slogan. Focus on the fun parts like the image instead!
Alternatively, you can design the t-shirt to be stylish and up-to-date so that it can attract even more attention! This has a higher chance to work better than the previous one as people are more likely to be attracted to a product knowing there is no hidden agenda behind it. What can you do? Go for a certain unique style that will seem like it will blend in with the public, but at the same time will make you stand out more, like the uses of 3D design or colour-blocking technique. If there is a pocket, you can colour it or have an object or character emerging or trying to get into the pocket. Creating a fun design like this will catch more eyes to what you are displaying! In turn, they would be intrigued to find the source of it and then proceed to look it up!
You can also build a brand personality and give it a character. If your company has a mascot or ‘spirit animal’ you definitely make use of it to be made as the main image on the t-shirt. Don’t have one? Create one! Make it comical and more casual instead of looking professional or corporate-ish. At the end of the day, no one puts on a t-shirt and thinks to themselves, “NOW I look formal,”.
If you notice, all the options above bring similar conclusions. put less highlight on what you are trying to bring to light; your company or team’s identity. The t-shirt will look less like a tool for branding and advertising, and more like a fashionable clothing item.
Printing
Of course, printing plays just as an equally important part in this topic. Although the design is generally what gives the wearers the first impression, how they feel after wearing the shirt is what’s going to make them cherish it. Thus, choose wisely on their behalf.
Luckily, choosing the fabric material and printing method is not as hard as the designing part. You simply have to get the sturdy, long-lasting material like a cotton-polyester blend. Need more of the sweat-absorbent power in your humid climate, make sure the cotton content is higher. If you have a lot of vibrant colours on your graphic designs, match it with printing method that will make them hold up well in the long run. This will ensure that your design will not fade, crack, or peel off even after years. For more advice on custom t shirt printing, just reach out to us at Custom Prints & Apparels!
