Part of the reason we created Springleap was not only to reward designers with cash , allow designers to create amazing tees, collaborate and interact with other designers – but also create a space where they can learn to take their game to new levels with fantastic advice from experience…

So today we have some AWESOME t-shirt design advice on placement.

Think about it – design is all about the layout. Don’t understand the media or materials and you can’t get good design.

So to get that you need to understand the balance of focusing on both the power of positive and negative space in design.

T-shirt design is a bit tricky because whilst the t-shirt is the canvas, you have to think of how the design will look on fabric and in 3D.

Generally good placement for most front facing t-shirt designs is between 2-5cm from below the rib – that’s the bit of material that runs around the collar of the t-shirt.

Think of the chest area as the premium space for the design to appear.

…like the design above. Making it bigger just wouldn’t make sense and distort the design when being worn. As it is the chest is perfect for displaying such a design.

In fact – very often designs that take up between the size of A4-A3 and are center-placed on the t-shirt are reffered to as a placement design on t-shirts.

Often there is the temptation to make designs super-big, that is, to fill the entire canvas. Whilst sometimes this can sound cool… in reality it can destroy the design.

Think of the design above : If the design was smaller the effect would be lost and design elements would disappear – but since the nature of the t-shirt is that it’s form is wrapped around the torso, remember that you don’t want to make the design so big it gets warped around the wearer’s body.

T-shirt design placement is what shapes the design as much as the design itself.

The above design is one of my favourites… Rein dance, my deer not only for the amazing design content and skill by Warholbot but for the careful placement by a designer who has some amazing experience in t-shirt design – take some wonderful advice here :

Look at the interesting way the design is laid out : the eye moves from the moon and the deer’s head outward and you really want to see all the different elements… but notice how he left clear areas on the sides to keep the design contained and not allow it to curve around the body as some elements would be lost.

On the other hand, not how mooray specifically uses this great design’s movement to literally swoop across the tee. This works especially well with 1-3 colour designs which can use the medium and shape well without being overpowering.

When you wear this tee it almost feels like the design swoops in from around behind you. Here the placement is amazing but when printing such a design the printers need to use a very light application of paint or the garment becomes too stiff to feel comfortable.

IntegralApparel does a great job with Ornamental, my dear Watson by placing the focal point of the design over over the heart area, allowing the design to flow outward from there. It just wouldn’t have been as effective if it was center placed in classic placement design style.

IntegralApparel is well known for his t-shirt design experience so definitely take his example as good advice!

Imagine if this design of his :“Malicious Bear”:http://www.springleap.com/designs/view/malicious-bear had been smaller… it just wouldn’t work as this design needs IMPACT.

Once again though, the printing needs to be super light, and if possible waterbased instead of plastisol.

So I hope this has been of help! Anyone got some more advice for t-shirt design placement?