The hard part is that a design needing eight colors costs triple to screen print. That embroidery flattens fine detail into mush. That your printer will reject a file at the wrong resolution and you'll lose a week. That ordering an even size run means a pile of unsold XXLs in a storage unit.
I co-founded an art collective and ran its merchandise end to end - design, sourcing, production, inventory, and the online store. I've paid for the blanks, argued with the printer, and watched things not sell.
Most designers hand over a file. I've lived with the consequences of the file.
What you get
What a merchandise design includes
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Artwork designed for your specific print method: screen, DTG, embroidery, vinyl or sublimation
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Print-ready files built to your vendor's spec, not a generic export
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Color separations where the print method needs them
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Mockups so you can see it before you commit to a run
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Placement and sizing guidance for each garment or product
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Color recommendations that keep the unit cost sensible
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Vector source files you own outright
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Two rounds of revisions
Is this the right service for you?
A good fit if
You're putting your name on something customers will wear or carry
You have a printer or supplier and need artwork they'll accept first time
You've had a design rejected, or quoted higher than expected, and don't know why
You need packaging, signage or promo items as well as apparel
You're selling at events, markets, or pop-ups and need it to work outdoors
Probably not a fit if
You don't have a logo yet. Start there, merch is downstream of identity
You want an online store built. I design for it, I don't run it for you
You need a thousand units tomorrow. Print lead times are the printer's, not mine
You want me to source and warehouse stock. I'll advise on it, but I'm designing, not fulfilling
How it works
Two to four weeks start to finish, depending on how quickly feedback comes back.
01
What's it printing on, and how?
The first question, always. Garment, material, print method, quantity, and budget per unit. These constraints shape the artwork from the first sketch instead of breaking it at the proof stage.
02
Design to the method
Screen printing rewards flat color and bold shapes. DTG handles gradients but sits differently on dark fabric. Embroidery loses anything under about 3mm. The design gets built for the process you're actually using.
03
Mockups and approval
See it on the product before committing to a run.
04
Files to spec
Delivered in exactly the format your printer asked for, named properly, with separations where needed. Fewer emails, no surprise setup fees, no rejected proofs.
Yes, and it's the part most designers skip. Send me their spec sheet before we start. Files built to spec come back approved the first time, which usually saves more than the design costs.
How many colors should my design use?
For screen printing, fewer colors means lower cost. Each one is a separate screen and setup charge. Two or three is the sweet spot for most small runs. DTG and sublimation don't have that constraint, so the answer depends on your method. Tell me your budget per unit and I'll design to it.
Will my logo work on a shirt as-is?
Sometimes. often it needs adapting. Thin lines vanish in embroidery, tight detail fills in on dark fabric, and a horizontal lockup rarely suits a chest print. That adaptation is part of the work.
Do you handle printing and fulfilment?
No. I design and supply print-ready files, and I'm happy to recommend printers and tell you what a fair quote looks like. Keeping production with your own vendor means you own the relationship and the margin.
What sizes should I order?
Not strictly a design question, but I've made this mistake with my own money. Most first-timers over-order the extremes. Weight your run toward medium and large, order the ends thin, and see what actually sells before committing to a second run.
Putting your name on something?
Tell me what you’re printing, how many, and who’s printing it. I’ll design to that spec so your vendor accepts it first time. Small businesses, caterers, bands and studios across the South Sound.
