Hey, guys.
So, shirt designs. First off, as we’ve mentioned before you with you all, we see first draft designs as starting points in a design process that, ideally, involves making changes and improvements based on client feedback. Whether it’s brand or marketing or…shirt design, we’ve found that a process involving the client results in more organic, creative solutions and more effective messaging to your audiences, whom, after all, you know best.
That said, if you like a design or concept as is, also great.
At this stage, we’re working to explore a wide array of different concepts and styles — if an idea appeals to you but the style in which it’s done isn’t hitting, let us know; same goes for vice versa. We’ve talked about a couple of these concepts and some will be totally new to you both, but we’re basically working to come up with something we think is cool that people would be excited to wear to rep. the restaurant.
We’ve done our best to not say too much about each concept below and let each speak for itself, but do have a few notes for each, in case you find that helpful.
Many of the concepts currently have a front pocket-placed design and a larger back design. If front-back printing isn’t in the budget, we can always streamline so we’re just doing one side.
Okay, hope your flight doesn’t get too delayed and here we go:
Shirt Design no. 1 — Enlarged Skull
This concept is simply riffing off the banner we did for you guys at VegFest — taking the standard logo and placing it at the pocket position on the front, and then bringing the name to a single line on either side of the logo on the back with the big, outlined skull underneath. In this case, we’re doing it white-on-black, but you could take the design and print it on any solid-colored shirt really.
Shirt Design no. 2 — Keep Calm
This is one design we ran by you two — the play off of the well-known ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ motivational poster from the UK. Played out, definitely, but could be fun. We’re thinking we’d print it on a red shirt for maximum recognition and we’re matching the original font. We also took the style of the crown from it and made it into a taco.
Shirt Design no. 3 — Lucha Libre
This was our idea on another take of the Lucha Libre concept, less cartoon-y, but still connecting to the idea of protein in a vegan diet. In this case, we’re calling out that all-too-common question we get asked as vegans — “But where do you get your protein?” The wrestling mask incorporates stylized plants commonly used in Mexican food & drinks — agave, cilantro, tomato slices, cut avocados — and tops it with a taco. As we placed this, we’re realizing the wide banner makes it so we can’t place the mask larger, so, if we like this concept, we could always place the text surrounding the mask rather than on a banner.
Shirt Design no. 4 — From Plants Peace
This concept originally came from the Latin phrase ‘E Pluribus Unum’ — out of many, one. In our case, we’re going with ‘E Plantis Pax’ — from plants, peace. Then we’re building that idea out with a stained-glass-window-like illustration of a taco with plants growing out of it, working everything out in bright, bold colors. And we have no idea if we’re translating the Spanish out well there — apologies if not.
Shirt Design no. 5 — Be Kind Eat Tacos
Finally, we’ve got a retro-cartoon-leaning take on ‘Be Kind, Eat Tacos’ … with a cheerful cartoon taco eating a terrified cartoon taco. Which could be seen as pro-cannibalization, but we dug it. Another one-color design for now, so it could go on any color shirt in any color ink.
Think that’s it!
Obviously, let us know if y’all have any questions right off the bat. Otherwise, we usually advise clients to gather their initial thoughts and then sleep on it to see how second impression might differ from those first ones. We’ve found that those latter impressions often better reflect longer term ones on design and overall concepts.
But, with shirts, we also usually advise asking yourself — “Would I wear this?” If the answer’s ‘yes,’ you’re usually good to go.
But thanks, talk soon, and safe travels!