Some t-shirt designs I’ve been working on for the youth conference in June. The name of the annual event is “War Cry” (long story) and the theme this year is “Invasion.”
(just in case, all designs are © 2005 Matt Suffern)
So far I’m striking out with the people who review these things… I just haven’t yet put together The One that makes their collective heart go pitter-pat. Some design direction would be nice too, but all I’m getting is, “We kind of like that one…” and, “That’s one not so much,” and so on and so forth. I guess I shouldn’t complain too much–it’s really not that bad. I just wish they’d take a poll of the kids as far as the designs–I try to design stuff that they’d actually want to wear after the conference is over… Meanwhile, some on the review committee wants me to translate this (not my design) to a shirt. It’s a nice design and all, but some just won’t work on a shirt. A strong, simple motif is key. Subtle shadings and nuances = bad. We’ll see where this goes.
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The day’s been pretty good so far, actually :)
I have to say I like the first two the most, but favor the second. Rayguns rock.
I was actually a little paranoid about what an overzealous parent might think about their kid marching around with an “Atomic Ray Gun” on their chest, but I really can’t find a more harmless-looking, toy-like gun. I’m hoping it’ll pass muster, at least.
edited to remedy redundant verbage
Maybe put a picture of Duck Dodgers on there?
I love the first back . . . but I wouldn’t wear a shirt that looked like that on the front.
Very cool though :)
Hey there – I was just browsing and came across your journal. I love to see people using their gifts and talents. What program do you use to create your graphic stuff in? I’m a Illustrator, Photoshop girl myself. Anyway, great stuff – the ray gun one has to be my fav – all things retro rock!
I like the fromt design for #3 a lot- it’s geometrically weird. the back is not so thrilling- i think i’d actually prefer just the design on the front and nothing on the back. the colors are great.
Thanks stina :)
How about this for an alternate front for no.1?
http://www.unc.edu/~msuffern/tshirts/tshirt2b-front.jpg
Hi! I’m glad you like the ray gun one. Thanks! :)
I use a combination of Illustrator and Photoshop, going back and forth until I have something decent. I’ll do the linework and fonts in IL but the image prepping in PS, final arrangement in IL but reimport it into PS so I can get it into a display-able format. And so on and so forth…
Thanks! The back didn’t turn out quite like I had hoped, but oh well. If there was a way to take the image’s design motifs and use them on the back with the requisite text… Hmm. Something to tinker with. Thanks for the feedback :)
i know you didn’t ask me, but…
yes. if that was the front, i’d choose 1.
I like! Definitely #1 if that was the front :)
I had to vote for #2…the old ray gun rocks and i love the back. Very cool. I wouldn’t think anyone would have a problem with a ray gun…it’s science fiction after all, not an AK47 or anything. Doesnt make me think of violence at all…just the future and alien invasion, mostly…which works out well since it’s the theme in the first place. If someone has an issue with a raygun they probably would be equally cheesed off at the term invasion. Both can imply violence, but not overtly.
My second favorite was the last one. It would probably look the best on me because, according to Kristi, i’m an autumn and the red just works with my skin tone…or some such thing. ;)
perhaps this is too traditional of me, but…
what if you put the words ont the front (the ray gun one, coolest) either across the front or at the pocket, and then the pic on the back (ray gun or whatever), maybe with the same words bigger below or above the pic? i know its “typical”, but that might help the kids wear it later, especially the girls….. i don’t know about you, but i don’t like wearing lots of screen printing on the front of my shirts.
and have you asked any of the kids?
and, actually….. love the ray gun words, but ray gun style does not match. the words are reminicient of the design they want to us. could you go with those words and work on something else? a black shirt with green writing….. anyway. just thoughts.
I’ve never been of an image just on the pocket of the front. I like a big, centered design on the front and a big, centered design on the back… But I can sort of understand the female rationale for wanting a smaller design up front.
I don’t think a black shirt is going to fly anyway, for two major reasons:
a. The conference is in June. Black shirt + Fayetteville June = Heatstroke
b. The kids like to write messages to each other on their shirts the last day of the conference. Black shirt + black permanent marker = no worky.
Thanks for the input :)
According to my contact who presented the designs at a planning meeting on Saturday, the one they liked the most was the dogtag design, with the alternate (cross + army helmet) front. So we’ll see :)