Shirt Ops: How to make awesome t-shirts for your conference

@wickett // #shirtops

Shirt Opshow to make a conference shirt people actually wear


Lots of people have asked me how we make the shirts

for devops days austin.

This is the answer.


A quick survey of the last 4 years of shirts…


2012


[n.b. In 2012, we had an attendance drop from the first day to the second day. One idea we came up with is to make a

limited edition “Day 2” shirt to incentivize attendance for the second day.]


2013 Day 1


2013 Day 2


2014 Day 1


2014 Day 2


2014 Sharing

Shirt


2015 Day 1


2015 Day 2


2015 Fundraiser

Shirt


92%

8%

Due to lame-ness, 92% of people never wear the shirt after the conference

* unverified market research


Printing on the backLooks like a billboardWhite T-ShirtLogo way too bigNot-softCorporate Shill Look

* unverified market research

Lame comes in many forms


We decided to make meaningful art for our event



Here is a simple guide to eliminate lame shirts and

make art


1. Decide your theme for your event.


2. Choose a few (2 or 3) other people that you input

from, but remember you have override authority. T-shirts aren’t made by committee.


3. Find examples of other shirts you like. Use the

googles.


4. Create a contest with 99designs.

You can use my 99designs referral > http://bit.ly/shirtops

http://bit.ly/shirtops


5. Go for the highest level of contest you can afford and guarantee the prize.


6. Be really thorough about your theme, what you like and what you

want in your 99designs contest brief.


Here are some samples of briefs I wrote for my 99designs contests:

http://99designs.com/t-shirt-design/contests/los-dias-de-devops-rock-calavera-

sugar-skull-457509/brief

http://99designs.com/t-shirt-design/contests/hand-drawn-vintage-goodness-

typographers-dream-366679/brief

http://99designs.com/t-shirt-design/contests/los-dias-de-devops-rock-calavera-sugar-skull-457509/brief

http://99designs.com/t-shirt-design/contests/hand-drawn-vintage-goodness-typographers-dream-366679/brief


7. During the contest, give lots of feedback to

the designers.


8. Once you have a winner, create a test run

of the shirts.


The test run helps you test design, colors,

and fabric.


A test run is crucial and it is not a waste. Think of it

as TDD for shirts.


I use RockSports, they are great. I work with James Payton >

[email protected]

Their minimum run is 12 shirts. Tell him @wickett sent you for the hook up.

mailto:[email protected]


9. Get really soft shirts.


Stick with one of the main brands:

District, American Apparel, or Canvas


Ask your t-shirt printer to do several different brands/

colors of shirts in the test run.


10. Once you are happy, make the final order about 3 weeks before your event.


Plan to start working on this 6-8 weeks before

your event.


Good luck.

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Shirt Ops: How to make awesome t-shirts for your conference