T-shirts play an important role in every human life. You probably have not noticed, but when it comes to relieving stress and feeling light, t-shirts are that piece of clothing that people usually prefer to wear. Apart from being the most comfortable cloth in people’s wardrobes, they are also a mobile billboard that can be used to convey brand messages to large audiences.
In your life, you must have come across cool t-shirts and thought how talented the designer would be who has created something that is so appreciated by people. Or you must have come across bad t-shirts and thought that the designer doesn’t have an eye for design. T-shirt design may seem like a fun and playful activity, but it requires proper planning. So if you are a small business owner and planning to promote your business through t-shirts, then here are a few tips to create better t-shirt designs.
1.Know your audience:
The first and foremost thing you need to work on is to identify your target audience. Are you designing it for adults, kids, or teenagers? If, for instance, your target audiences are both adults and teenagers, you need to then elaborate your research to find out their tastes, likes, dislikes, etc. This is an important step in the t-shirt design process, as, at the end of the day, they are the ones who are going to wear it.
2.Define your budget:
The next step in t-shirt designing is to evaluate your budget i.e. how much money you want to invest in designing a t-shirt. To make a marketing budget, you can take out your balance sheet and add all the costs and profits. When you know how much profit you can expect in the respective year, you can then set aside that money for marketing activities.
3.Think about the design:
After knowing the audiences and setting the budget, the next thing in the creative t-shirt design process is to choose the type of design you want to put on your t-shirts -whether you want to put some image or simply a famous slogan on the t-shirt. This decision again will depend on your target audience. But whichever design you choose, make sure your brand name or logo is clearly visible on the t-shirts. After all, the sole purpose of designing t-shirts is to promote your brand.
Choose a type of t-shirt:
T-shirts come in various styles such as polo, v-neck, cropped tee, half sleeves, and many more. Deciding on the type of t-shirt will help you come up with unique designs. For instance, t-shirts with full sleeves will allow you to print your brand name or slogan on it. Similar is the case with pocket-style t-shirts. Having pockets on a t-shirt will provide you with an opportunity to print your company logo on it.
4.Choose a color scheme:
Every color has its own meaning. They have the power to evoke emotions that can lead to either positive or negative feelings. Choosing an appropriate color is similar to a proper fit detail that can make or break an outfit. Therefore, to design a t-shirt, it is important to choose the right color scheme. If you have any specific brand color, then it is wise to choose the same color for your t-shirt design. But if you don’t have any specific brand color, then before finalizing the color, we would advise you to have a clear understanding of color psychology.
5.Decide the right placement of the design:
Will your design look great in the middle or top left corner of your t-shirt? When you print t-shirts, especially for branding purposes, the design must be clearly visible. You must have noticed people wearing t-shirts where the design often gets hidden when they move even slightly. This is because the placement of the design is not correct. If you have a great design, but the placement is wrong, then your efforts won’t matter at all. It will not only destroy the actual purpose but also reflect poor branding. And especially at early stages of your business, we are sure you don’t want to take this risk.
6.Know your printing options:
When it comes to clothing, apart from designs, the most important thing is the print quality. If the quality of the print is not good, then all your efforts will go in vain. Not all printing methods are suitable for every fabric type. For example, the dye sublimation printing technique is suitable for polyester fabric only. Apart from fabrics, the complexity of the design and the number of orders also play a big role in deciding the printing method. For example, for complex designs and small orders, direct to garment (DTG) is considered to be an ideal method.
7.Hire a designer:
Want to design a t-shirt on your own? Well, it’s good to have some knowledge in everything, but when it comes to designing clothing, it’s best to leave it in the hands of experts. Nowadays, it can become quite easy for companies to hire a professional t-shirt designer. All thanks to websites like Designhill. This outstanding platform helps users get in touch with thousands of professional designers globally. Once you finalize the design, don’t forget to take the files from the designer in PDF, EPS, or AI formats. Also take the code details of the colors used in designing.
8.Find a printer:
Finally, your design is ready! It’s time to find a printer that offers the method you require at a price that fits your budget. Before finalizing the printer, make sure they have an in-house printing facility and they send you some pre-work samples. Also have clarity of all the charges involved, including the hidden ones. Sometimes, printers never reveal the hidden charges and at the end, customers have to pay more than their budgets.
Conclusion:
Currently, t-shirt printing business is on the rise. Many companies are using t-shirts as a walking billboard to promote their brand. So go ahead, follow these tips, and create an outstanding t-shirt for your brand. Good Luck!
Alice Jackson is a business consultant, blogger, social media enthusiast, online market analyst, amateur designer and an avid author at Designhill. She has written on several topics including social media marketing, SEO, content marketing, startup strategies and e-commerce. When she’s not writing, she loves spending her time reading romantic novels, creating new online tshirt designs. Connect with her on Twitter: @jackson_alice1