How to create a unique t-shirt design from scratch
From finding inspiration in everyday life, such as nature and pop culture, to choosing the right colors and fonts that make your design personal and eye-catching – the goal is to create something that not only looks good but also appeals to others and has the potential to sell well.
Find your inspiration: Pop culture, nature and trends
Inspiration is everywhere! Check out what’s trending on social media, or draw inspiration from movies, music and even the colors of nature. One tip is to always have your phone or a notebook ready to write down ideas as they come. Think slogans, patterns or motifs that catch your attention.
Inspirational tips:
- Browse Instagram and Pinterest for color trends and graphic ideas
- Take a walk in nature and see if anything there can inspire your next design
- Check out what your favorite artists or influencers are wearing to find cool ideas
Start with a simple sketch or concept and build from there
Once you have an idea, start simple. Sketch on paper or use a digital tool like Canva or Hejdi. Here you can experiment with colors and shapes without feeling the pressure to get it perfect right away. Don’t worry if your first sketch doesn’t look the way you want – that’s part of the process!
Choosing the right colors and fonts for your t-shirt design
Colors and fonts are two of the most important elements in creating a design that stands out. Finding the right combination can take your t-shirt from something simple to something really impressive.
Experiment with colors that complement each other
- Bright colors give a playful and energetic feel.
- Darker colors can feel more sophisticated and stylish.
- Try different color palettes in design tools to find what works best!
A good tip is to keep colors simple. Two or three colors that match each other are usually enough to create a visually appealing design. For light-colored t-shirts, dark designs work well, and for dark-colored t-shirts, light designs work best.
Keep typography simple and easy to read
When it comes to fonts, go for simplicity. It’s tempting to use fancy and intricate fonts, but this can often make the design difficult to read and cluttered. Instead, opt for a clean and clear font, especially if your t-shirt contains a lot of text.
Tips:
- Use a maximum of two different fonts for balance.
- Combine a stylish font with a playful one to create dynamism without overloading the design.
How to take your t-shirt design from idea to reality
Now that you’ve sketched out an idea and chosen the colors and fonts, it’s time to make your design a reality. This step is all about fine-tuning the details and testing how your design looks on a real t-shirt.
Use Hejdi’s simple tools to get started
Start by creating your design digitally. Hejdi offers many templates and tools that are easy to use even if you don’t have a design background. Upload your own images or choose from the ready-made options to get started quickly. You can also easily test different placements and sizes of your design.
Make digital mockups and test different layouts
Creating mockups – digital previews of what your t-shirt will look like – is a smart way to avoid mistakes. You can test how the design looks on different colors and sizes before moving on to print. Maybe your design looks better on a white shirt than a black one? Or the other way around?
Checklist:
- Test your design on different t-shirt colors.
- Create mockups to see how it looks in real life (either with e.g. Adobe Illustrator, directly in Hejdi’s design tool or Canva.)
- Adjust the size or positioning if necessary.
Create a creative design for your t-shirt
Now is the time to unleash your creativity! Here are some tips on how to make your t-shirt unique and stand out.
Combine graphics and text to create something unique
A strong combination of graphics and text can really lift your t-shirt. Maybe you have a powerful slogan you want to use? Combine it with a simple symbol or a strong graphic illustration to create a visually appealing and meaningful design.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with the placement of your design
Who says the print has to be in the middle? Try placing your design on the side, higher up or further down to create a different and cool look. Big prints on the back and minimalist on the front? Try it out!
From inspiration to finished design
Once you’ve worked out your design, it’s important to take a step back and review the result. Create several versions and ask for feedback to see what works best.
Create multiple versions of your design and test them with feedback
Making small adjustments in colors or placement can have big results. Try out different variations of your design and show them to friends or colleagues. Sometimes someone else can see things you missed, like text that is hard to read or a color that doesn’t quite work.
Create a design that sells
When all is said and done, it’s important that your t-shirt also appeals to others and actually sells! Here are some final tips on how to create a design that people will want to buy.
Keep the design simple but engaging to grab attention
A simple design is often more effective than one that is overloaded with details. Bright colors, clear lines and a strong main idea make your t-shirt catch the eye quickly and be easy to understand. People should be able to read and understand the design in one go, without having to think.
Test the design on different colors and backgrounds for best effect
A design can look completely different depending on the color of the T-shirt. Test how your design looks on different backgrounds and adjust it if necessary. It might be a good idea to offer several color options to appeal to different tastes.
