| If you've decided that you want to create limited | | | | properly too. Again, what works in print, or on a car, |
| edition T shirts based on your T shirt designs, then | | | | or billboard, might not look so good on a T shirt. Will |
| perhaps you'll want to enter a T Shirt Design | | | | bright colours show off your design best, or will you |
| Contest. | | | | choose contrasting colours? What about using unusual |
| Here's what you need to know about designing a T | | | | colours, or colour schemes that define decades or |
| shirt. | | | | eras, if appropriate? |
| 1. You'll need to decide who the T Shirt is for. Is | | | | 7. Why not look at previous winners, and other T |
| there a definite target audience, or will it appeal to | | | | shirts that you like, and see if you can establish why |
| everyone who wears T shirts? | | | | you like them, and why they are popular. What about |
| 2. You'll want to establish why you're creating a | | | | speaking to other T Shirt designers and seeing what |
| limited edition T-shirt, so that you can make sure | | | | inspires them, or what else you can learn from them? |
| that you give it the attention and consideration it | | | | 8. Don't forget to ask people for their opinions, and |
| needs. You don't want to submit something that's | | | | learn to accept criticism. In the same way that you |
| half finished, or rushed. | | | | won't like everything other t shirt designers do, not |
| 3. Perhaps you'll be making the most of a topical or | | | | everyone will like what you do. What can you learn |
| satirical situation, and so will need to get your design | | | | from this? Are these people offering constructive |
| finished within a relatively quick timescale, otherwise | | | | advice? |
| the moment will have passed. You might want to go | | | | 9. No matter what your finished design looks like, |
| for a more basic design that will be finished sooner, | | | | when you submit it you'll want to know that you've |
| rather than a complicated design that will take weeks | | | | done your best, and that you're proud of it. You'll |
| to perfect. | | | | want your designs to be in with a shout of winning, |
| 4. Perhaps you already have a suitable t-shirt design | | | | so you'll need to work hard and stand out for the |
| in mind, or maybe you're picking up inspiration from | | | | rest. |
| lots of things around you. Perhaps you're already | | | | 10. If you can, enter t shirt design contests regularly, |
| interested in fashion and design, or know what sort | | | | so that you can learn what makes a winning design, |
| of things you'd like to see on a T shirt. If you're | | | | and how you can make your T Shirts better. Do |
| designing an amusing T shirt, is it really funny, or using | | | | some sorts of T shirt design work better at |
| an obscure or highbrow reference? Will other people | | | | different times of the year? Are other winning t shirt |
| who don't get the joke still like your design? | | | | designers doing something you're not? Are your |
| 5. You'll want to be careful with fonts. What looks | | | | designs just not good enough? By taking the time to |
| good in print, or on a website, might not look so | | | | see how you can make your designs better, you'll |
| good on the front of a T shirt. Perhaps you'll want to | | | | have more chance of winning next time. |
| make the size of your text bigger, or easier to read, | | | | Now you know how you can make your limited |
| or less intrusive. Why not try several ideas and see | | | | edition t shirts better, will you be one of the winning |
| which works best? | | | | T shirt designers? |
| 6. The colours you choose need to be considered | | | | |