What to Consider When Designing a T-Shirt
There are many things to consider when you are design a t-shirt for a customer. Here I will go thru what I think are the 8 most important.
- 1. Design Concept, Theme and Idea
Hopefully the customer comes to you with an idea or theme. Design concept will usually be up to you. Discuss necessary elements that must be included like mascot, date, quote etc. Once you have all the information you need, move on to Step 2.
2. Composition
The layout of all the elements is extremely important. Most important elements like name of event or mascot should have the most prominent location. Usually this is the top or bigger in the center. There should be a flow to the design to direct the viewers eyes in a certain manner to show the whole shirt, each element in order of importance.
3. Style
The style should reflex the intent of the design. Is the design bold, abstract, comic book, subtle, sketchy etc. It should be whatever gets the message out your customer needs.
4. Depth
The best designs have some depth to them. This is created by using highlight, shadows, and contrast. More colors doesn’t always make a better design. It’s the intrigue created that usually does that. Depth is when you look at the design and see something within it. Like layers of elements. It doesn’t need to be complicated, just thought provoking.
5. Color
Speaking of color, it is also very important. Sometimes it’s as easy as using school colors or one color that shows up best on the color of shirt picked out for you from the customer. Other times it is color limitations because of size of printer, customer’s budget or type of material being printed on.
6. Line, Shape and Texture
Lines-the direction of a line can convey mood. Horizontal lines are calm and quiet, vertical lines suggest more of a potential for movement, while diagonal lines strongly suggest movement. Contour lines are lines that make the edge of a shape. Gesture lines are multiple lines that make the shape look like it’s moving.
Shape-the shapes that are placed are the positive shapes. The spaces around the shapes are the negative spaces. It is as important to consider the negative space in a design as much as the positive shapes.
Texture-the surface quality of an object. Texture is a way of creating impressions on to the two-dimensional image. Varying the pattern of light and dark areas on an object creates texture.
7. Movement
A good design will lead the viewer’s eyes on a journey around the artwork. Some designs because of great use of some of the elements mention above look fluid as if it is actually moving, or just about to move or just stopped. These designs are considered dynamic. Usually these designs are the best because they pull the viewer into the design.
8. Balance
One of the definition of balance is ‘A state of equilibrium or parity characterized by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces.’ Another definition is ‘a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions. I like the latter one. An unbalanced design creates a feeling of tension, looks unfinished or that it seems to have something ‘missing’.
Take care of all these elements and you will have an effective t-shirt design.
Until next month. Hope all enjoyed the 2016 Rio Olympics. Go (your) team!
Cora Kromer
cora@qdigitizing.com