T-Shirt Design Pro Tips for Business Owners

Design T-Shirts Like a Pro with These Six Tips

By LogoSportswear | Updated on August 2, 2023

A picture is worth a thousand words, and a standout T-shirt design is a testament to this truth. People are likely to notice a clever tagline, company logo, or a statement on a T-shirt their friend, loved one, or favorite personality wears. And if you're part of a team that wears uniforms to work, your clients will remember the cool, premium-looking branded shirt you wear to work or in the field.

In short, a well-designed custom T-shirt increases the chances of more people getting to know and recalling your business. But creating custom artwork can be daunting for a small business owner or a novice designer. Don't worry, we got your back - here are six tried-and-tested tips to help you design T-shirts that will make people think you're a professional.

1. Think about how people will wear your T-shirt.

Before anything else, think about your target market. Who will be wearing the T-shirt? What is their routine like? How are they meant to use your T-shirt? The answers to these questions will help you narrow down the T-shirt options you'll be designing - from the style, colors, down to the fabric. If you plan on giving away or selling the shirts you'll design, start your brainstorming session with some of the common purposes of custom T-shirts:

• Promotional apparel advertises your brand to your target audience and potential customers. When designing these shirts, include design elements users will associate with the business, such as your logo, brand colors, and the tagline. Above all, you should also keep in mind the comfort of the wearer. It's easier for a shirt to become their favorite and go-to top when it feels good to wear anytime of the year.
• Corporate wear can serve as company uniform. You could stick to the traditional company and logo as your design elements, or you can customize each shirt and add your chosen names to make it personal.
• Event freebies or souvenirs usually follow a theme or are designed depending on the activity they will be worn to. For example, a T-shirt design and material for a fundraising marathon would be different from a T-shirt you'd expect to receive in a weekend pop-up market or a concert.

2. Develop a design that's consistent with your brand.

Get inspiration or start with elements that are available to you like your company logo, business name, or other promotional materials on hand. Among all these artworks, note the common colors, fonts, and shapes, then see how you can transform them into a captivating design. Starting with what you already have ensures the T-shirt design is consistent with your brand and what people see on display.

3. Keep your T-shirt design uncluttered.

Stick to the essential details so viewers know what they should be looking at; you want your customers to remember a more straightforward design. People are more likely to ignore a design that is too busy or complex. To determine if the design is simple enough, look at how all the parts come together. Each shape, word, and color should contribute to its overall impact and the purpose of the T-shirt. If you want to start exploring how to design T-shirts, check out the tools available online.

4. Select a suitable font and follow the basic rules of typography.

Are you using your company slogan or a fun message as the focus of your T-shirt design? Showcase these words with a font that's easy to read from afar or up close. You can print your artwork and then tape it to a wall to check its readability from any distance. Apart from legibility, the font choice should also convey your message's tone and voice effectively. For example, T-shirts worn or given away at a corporate event should use professional-looking fonts, whereas you'll probably see more playful fonts on shirts distributed at more casual events like a summer outing or holiday parties.

Typography, or the visual arrangement of words, also informs the message's presentation on the T-shirt. Keep these typography rules in mind when laying out the words of your design:

1. Place the most important words on top. You can also render them in boldface for added emphasis.
2. Arrange the words in the order they should be read. For example, if your layout requires that the words are read from top to bottom, arrange the words in that order and make sure they are read correctly. When in doubt, ask the people around you to look at your design and ask whether it's clear or confusing.
3. Be mindful with the use of drop shadows and textures on your design message as these added highlights may be difficult to print legibly.
4. If you must include images, they should stand out and not get in the way of the text. Avoid using busy photos or graphics and make sure your images are high resolution.
5. Choose colors that work well together.

Start with the color of your T-shirt as the basis for the design's different hues. Dark T-shirts complement bright designs, while light-colored T-shirts bring out artwork that are predominantly dark-colored. Avoid using too many colors as well unless your design requires you to portray several color combinations. When your shirt has too much going on, it may distract customers that they lose focus on the T-shirt. Furthermore, printing too many colors can be more expensive and may cause you to go overbudget.

6. Plan your design's location on the T-shirt.

T-shirt artworks are usually placed at the center, upper left, or upper right corners of the garment. For designs that take up the T-shirt's front side, print it four inches from the collar. Any lower that this will land your design on the belly, which is not flattering on anyone. If you place the design on the upper corners, keep it small but recognizable for a subtle touch. You typically see logos or company names on employee uniforms' left or right sides of the chest. For designs printed on the shirt's back side, ensure it's placed five inches from the collar and at centered between the left and right seams.This location gives it a balanced and flattering appearance when worn.

Use an e-commerce printer for a straightforward design and ordering process.

Get more bang for your buck with T-shirts from popular brands Carhartt, Bella + Canvas, Hanes, and Nike. These reputable names assure quality styles made of fabrics that last for years. Employees and customers will appreciate the longevity and premium experience when they wear your customized T-shirts. LogoSportswear offers various T-shirts from these brands as well as free decorating tools. Design your logo or artwork using LogoSportswear's ready-made design templates or the easy-to-use Online Designer.