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Originally Posted On: https://www.byoglogo.com/create-designs-for-custom-garments/

Shortly after deciding on what types of custom garments you want to order in bulk, you’ll need to make a decision about your design. But how do you create a design for your custom garments that actually looks good?

When it comes to designing custom garments, you have endless possibilities. This array of options can make the process of crafting a stylish design seem overwhelming, especially if you don’t have much existing artwork to go off of.

In this quick walk-through, we will go over a few best practices that will help you create an impactful design for your custom garments.

Your logo

If you don’t already have one, creating custom garments presents an excellent opportunity to design a logo. Whether you have a company, an academic organization, or something else, a logo is key to your identity. When creating yours, you’ll want to make sure your logo is:

• Unique: Remember that the main purpose of a logo is identification of your brand. You don’t want your logo to get mistaken for something else — it’ll be confusing, and in some cases, it could even lead to disputes.
• Flexible: At some point, you’ll probably want to use your logo on more than just garments. Make sure your design is easily translatable onto other mediums.
• Simple: This one should make you feel a little more relieved. You don’t need an overly-complicated design to stand out and be recognized. In fact, many of the most recognizable logos are simple in nature.

Placement

Now that you have a logo created, you may be thinking “I’m going to make this huge for the whole world to see!” This isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but you may want to reconsider depending on where and how this garment will be worn.

For more professional-looking tops, consider limiting designs on the front of your garments to a smaller version of your logo/design on the upper left and saving larger designs for the back. For pants and shorts, limit your design to the front upper left in order to avoid clashing with tops.

Fabric/Material

While you probably already know the types of garment you want for your design (t-shirt, polo, sweat pants, etc.), you should also consider the fabric or material used for those shirts. They may be subtle, but the patterns and textures of the fabric are noticeable and some may suit your brand more than others.

For example, if your brand’s style is a little more rustic, you might opt for a fabric with a more visible texture. On the other hand, for a more sleek and athletic look, you can apply your design to a breathable polyester garment like this polo shirt from Sport-Tek.

Color

When it comes to your design’s appearance, you’ll find it easier to achieve a balanced look with logos limited to two colors. This limitation is not a catch-all rule, but will certainly help you create a design that is in line with basic color theory.

If your logo features more than two colors and you want to include it in all it’s polychromatic glory, you may want to opt for a black or white garment. This will reduce the chances of your finished product looking too “busy” and uncoordinated.

By contrast, if you want something that looks crisp, try adding a monochromatic version of your logo to your garment. A black or white version of your logo on a garment that’s entirely one of your brand‘s colors will look simple and professional.

Do you need help creating a design that perfectly captures what your brand is all about? We’re happy to help! Contact our team of experts to create a product that’s perfect for you today.