How to Design a T-Shirt: A Pro Tip

By Atul Bharat Ahire

Do you have an killer t-shirt idea and suspect others will feel the same way? Are you looking for an alternative means of promoting your business, or making some side income with merch? Do you want to commemorate a special event, like a family reunion or bachelorette party? Whatever your reasons, the fundamentals of t-shirt design remain the same; it's what you do with them that counts.

In this Ultimate Guide to T-Shirt Design, we'll run through the each step of the design process, from the inception of an idea to getting your shirt mass-produced. No matter how much (or how little) experience you have, these t-shirt design tips will give you everything you need to know.

How to design a t-shirt in 7 steps 
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Table of Contents

Figure out why you need a shirt 
Define your budget at quantity 
Know your printing options 
Screen printing 
Vinyl graphics 
Direct-to-garment 
Brainstorm your design concept 
T-shirt types 
Style and imagery 
Typography 
Color 
Specialty printing 
Find a designer 
Evaluate your design 
Get the right files 
Find a kick-ass printer 
1. Figure out why you need a shirt 
No matter your reason for making a shirt, it'll always involve a little bit of branding. If you're using t-shirts for promotional purposes, branding is your main goal. Even if it's strictly fashion, you'll still need to weave consistent brand themes into all your products. For personal use-like commemorating an event, for example-you want to make sure your t-shirt design communicates clearly.If you haven't already, write out a list of the key themes, styles, and personality traits you want your brand and shirts to convey. Is your brand playful or serious? Edgy or conservative? Luxurious or affordable? A focused t-shirt design can answer all of these questions at a glance. 
Take a quick peek at the example above. What does it tell you about the Brewmasters company? For starters, they don't take themselves too seriously, and the wooden instruments suggest a more traditional brewing style that hints at a classic taste. That's a lot of information from a cartoon. 
To get the most effective design, move away from your personal preference and rely more on real, quantifiable data. Who are your target clients/customers? What brand traits do they want to do business with? 
Here are four t-shirt goals to help guide your design process by helping you understand why you need a shirt and what you want it to do.

https://99designs.com/blog/design-other/how-to-design-t-shirts/