Pop Art

So, the title alone of this blog would seem to denote that it would be about t-shirts.  Normally that would be true.

I have had a good run so far with MySoti in simply uploading my designs as t-shirt designs.  Every time I do, I have always been a little curious about their option to upload your design as a canvas/poster.  So, I gave it a try.

I liked it.  It was easy.  And like Andy Warhol before us, one might argue that t-shirt designs (which I liken more to pop art) aren't art.  Until they are.  Am I right?

So this week I as suggesting you give it a try (if you haven't already).  And even though I am not including one of my t-shirt designs as the embedding MySoti provides in order for you to blog about your art, I love this photo that I've turned into art with a few strokes of my laptop keyboard.  Maybe it will inspire you.

Mahalo.  Aloha.

MySoti Has A New Look

A funny thing happened while I was living my life...things went on without me.

I so didn't end up doing extra blog posts in an effort to shamelessly try to get in last minute plugs for people to buy items with my designs on them.  Didn't feel right.

And MySoti got a new look to its website and will soon be adding new products.  I don't know what they are.  It's a secret.

So how did I find out?  They send me a newsletter, which I don't read.  Is that wrong?  My best selling design for 2009 was a photo of Manhattan Beach Pier.  And I have a new photo of the pier I am very proud of and thought I would add it to my collection of MySoti and CafePress.

Here's the scoop on the MySoti (and p.s. if you aren't using them yet, please spread the word (www.mysoti.com)...they are easy to use):



As much as I love MySoti, I continue to love and appreciate CafePress.com.   The same design is then available on over 100 items, like the tile below which make really great coasters.

If you are interested in buying any of these coasters, please click here.

If you are interested in seeing what this design looks like on the over 100 other products available from CafePress.com, please click here.

If you are wondering what my best selling design for 2009 (and BTW a shout out here of gratitude to all who buy products with my designs on them) is, see below:

This is what it looks like on the round ornament.  To buy one, click here.  If you'd like to see how this design looks on any of the other over 100 items CafePress.com offers, please click here.

And here is a tip.  While I am grateful for all of those who find and buy products with my designs on them because they simply went to CafePress.com and looked at designs and products and chose one of mine (again, thank you)...I'd like to let you know that you most likely paid more for it this way and my commission is less than if you bought it by linking say from this blog. 

For instance, many bought the above ornament for $12 through CafePress and my commission in this way is 10% or $1.20 (again, I appreciate something compared to nothing).  However, had they bought it by clicking from this blog where I ask them to click, their price would have been $7.19 (without shipping, etc.) and my commission would have been $1.20 (I marked it up 20% from CafePress's base price of $5.99).  In this case I would have ended up with the same.  However, had I marked it up 30%, the customer's price would have been only $7.79 and my commission would have been $1.80.

One may think this isn't the greatest news for CafePress.  Yet, it is a win/win/win.  CafePress still ends up with at least its base price they ask for, the end customer ends up with a lower price and the designer usually ends up with more of a commission.

Who knew!  I did the math!

P.S.  It appears the #DesignAShirtAWeek is now defunct and I don't know what @bryanbrinkman is up to.  I wish him well whatever it is.

Where the heck do I find inspiration?

Inspiration is everywhere.

I write another blog, CaliforniVacation: SoCal Style.  In looking over some of my past posts, I realized I mention parking in just about every article.  Hmmm!  Inspiration.

In yet another blog I write, Six Degrees of Separation: YouTube Style, (see, I told you this was a shameless shillin' blog) all I have to do is input a word or two in the search box.  Voila!  Many videos to choose from.  Many related videos to choose from.  Many bytes of data begging me to design something.

Or take @bryanbrinkman's current design for #DesignAShirtAWeek on Twitter.  A play on the "t" in t-shirt was all the inspiration he needed to come up with an illustration, a work of art, worthy of gracing a t-shirt anyone would be honored to wear.

See for yourself.



I stuck with the cute for the kids theme this week.  Christmas is coming.  I'm just sayin'!

Okay, sometimes a person has to go to plan B.  I would have loved to insert a MySoti for the following two designs and for some reason I was being denied.  Maybe a blessing in disguise.  This way I showcase my Cafepress shop, which includes so many more items one may buy with the design.  Plus, their infant body suit is only $11.99 while MySoti's is $7 more.  I'm just sayin'!

If you were born to kiss your mommy:

If you were born to kiss your daddy:

Who were you born 2 kiss?

Mmmmwwwwaaaahhhhhhh!

Mahalo!  Aloha!

Where the Wild Things Are

I love checking to see what @bryanbrinkman has created each week for his #DesignAShirtAWeek submission to the cause.

This week's submission is as creative and imaginative as all of @bryanbrinkman's designs have been to date, as you are about to view here:



His unipighorse, by some, might be "pooh pooh'd" since in our current reality there would appear to be no such thing as a unipighorse.  I would argue, "what is real in the realm of imagination and drawing?"  What if Maurice Sendak had felt that way and never wrote and created the "wild things" in his widely celebrated work, "Where the Wild Things Are"?

So this week I am just saying to feel free to let your self be unlimited with your creations and designs.  Let the wild things out...you know...as long as they aren't going to harm someone else.

Lest you think I forgot, I haven't.  Below is my submission for this week.



I went for the cute factor this week.  What's more cute than paws and babies?

Lastly, for the third week in a row the Marilyn Slade t-shirt is MySoti's sales topper.  Way to go!

Oh wait!  Now really lastly, as always, please consider this blog an open invite to share your designs or tips and the like.  We love hearing from you.

Happy Halloween and All Saints Day to all the sinners and saints alike.

It's Saturday Somewhere

When I started this blog, I had the idea I would write every Saturday to coincide with my first bryanbrinkman/Twitter #DesignAShirtAWeek connection.  Most who read this will never know I missed last Saturday.  For those who do.  Sorry!

For this weeks blog, I decided to pimp my design for one of my other blogs, CaliforniVacation: SoCal Style.  In the process, instead of finding yet another web presence you may upload your t-shirt design to, I would mention (in case you didn't know 'cuz you may not) your awesome t-shirt designs may also be uploaded for use on other products you may offer for sale through sites like CafePress and Zazzle.

For CaliforniVacation: SoCal Style I wanted to go for an entire theme.  In Southern California (SoCal) a load of people live here and a load of people visit as tourists (how's that for being specific?)  We are low on water and high on trash.  In an effort to be green, I desired to include in my theme a SIGG Bottle,

a tote bag,

a t-shirt,



and a beach towel.

Search as I might, I only found one web presence that offered customizable beach towels but not in a way that CafePress, Zazzle and MySoti let you offer them.  To use this service I would have to preorder myself a number of towels with my design and then handle the money and shipping, etc. myself.   No thanks!

In the meantime, I am a little excited about some of the products Zazzle offers.  You can put your design on a skateboard.  You can have your design on a pair of women's KEDS shoes.

You can create your own Converse Chuck Taylors.  Although, as exciting as this is you can customize color combos according to their color selections for different parts of the shoe but you can't upload a design and have them print that on the canvas.  Who knows?  That day may soon come.  That would be exciting.

And as sometimes happens, perhaps I am not the only one who would love to buy custom beach towels.  A whole in the market perhaps?

So, enough about me.  Here is @bryanbrinkman week #7 entry:



Another brilliant (may I say and he doesn't pay me to) design.  Love how the apple is implied instead of shown.  Love the t-shirt placement.  Love the originality.

I'd include the most bought MySoti t-shirt here, but it is the same as my last blog post.

And I'd include (happy to pimp) one of this blog readers designs here.  Alas, I know of none.  This spot in future blog posts is certainly available along with any inspiration or tips you'd like to share.

Until next time, live creative and prosper.

#DesignAShirtAWeek 6

This week I'm writing about a resource for t-shirt designers, Rival Art.

You know, in high-end advertising agencies they have copy people and art people.  It's usually rare when one person does both.  This doesn't mean you can't envision an entire ad campaign or for our purposes what you may feel would be a kick-ass t-shirt design.  It's just that either as an art person or more of a copy person, it may be difficult for you to get your design into a usable format without a little help.

If you are more like me (more of the copy talent with less art talent), Rival Art may be just what you need to really take your t-shirt designing to a new level.  Rival Art offers clip art, templates or you may hire them to do art.

My design this week is my reminder to all and my self to be sure to include fun in my life.  You'd think we wouldn't need a reminder, but sometimes we just do.


Bryan's design is a delightful play on the word manatee, hence the holding of the sausage.


As a long-time David Bowie fan, this week's most wanted t-shirt from Mysoti is a clever play on two very iconic symbols merged into one.  Perhaps the shirt may inspire you to create something equally as awesome by combining iconic symbols.


May you continue to be inspired with joyous and prosperous creativity.

Going Pro

Welcome to Week #5.

Okay, still a little surprised that no one else is participating on Twitter #DesignAShirtAWeek.  Having said that, I am thrilled with @bryanbrinkman and @loribjork entries for this week.

Since I am @loribjork and one of my other great passions is spirituality and the law of attraction, I just want to share my belief that if you ever find yourself walking around and all of a sudden an idea pops in your mind that goes something like this, "that would be a great idea for a t-shirt"...well, to me, that really is all it takes to identify your self as a t-shirt designer.

There are tons of easy to use software out there to help you get the idea from your mind into a digital format.  And tons of web presences, including MySoti, that you can upload your design to.  Or if you don't have the use of software or the time or inclination to learn, you could always hire someone like @bryanbrinkman or @loribjork to create a digital representation for you and/or upload it to the various web presences.

For me personally, there was nothing more exciting than the first time someone buys an item with one of my designs on them.  And while I am not a dictionary, let's get real here.  If you get paid for doing something, you are a PRO.

Once you identify your self as a PRO, it radiates a vibration to the Universe that brings you more of the same.

So, if you want to be a PRO...be one.  Proclaim it.  PRO claim it.

"If you think you can't or can, you are correct." Henry Ford

Okay...@bryanbrinkman was obviously inspired this week by Halloween.  I love his newest entry.



@loribjork not so much.  I appear to be a little more inspired by the love of a tall, cool one.



Thanks for peeping this blog.

Remember, there is a standing open invitation to all who wish to participate via Twitter with #DesignAShirtAWeek.  We will shamelessly plug your design in this blog.

Below is one of the most demanded designs on MySoti this week.  Stuff by RikkiB, which is described as doodle-tastic!

What makes a successful t-shirt designer?

What makes a successful t-shirt designer?

Seriously, what's that answer.

You've sold more t-shirts with your designs on them than anyone else?

You are in spot 1 when someone searches "t-shirt designers" on Google Search.

http://www.customink.com

So I had to check them out. Catchy slogan, "You think it. We ink it."

Okay, I'm still enthralled with MySoti if you are thinking t-shirt design purist. Custom Ink does offer the ability to put your design for purchase on a frisbee. Frisbee golf anyone? They seem very much like cafepress. Hmmm, but shorts and beer koozies too. The design lab looked inviting. Nothing about tips on what makes a good design.

So what else does google have for us?

2. http://www.coloroverload.com

3. www.threadless.com

Here we go? They pick a best of the month, called the bestee winner. July '09s winner, If you would like to see his design, click here. It actually is quite delightful, but you need to be a cat person.

And they have design challenges. Currently, threadless loves geeks sponsored by Microsoft. You can win some money, too. They are accepting designs through October 1, 2009. Want more info, click here.

Threadless also offers money if your design is chosen for print. More info about this if you click above which takes you to their homepage. If you win their annual bestee award, kapow, $22,500.

MySoti has a this week's most wanted. People may vote on each others designs. This week's most wanted:


Okay, I checked out MySoti's blog to see if they have any design tips. Nada!

It did show some pretty awesome designs, though.

Okay, no answer to what makes a designer successful. You could probably find as many answers almost as their are designs.

If you are a t-shirt designer and would like me to dedicate a blog to you and some of your designs and your design process and inspirations and what you feel makes a successful t-shirt designer and the like, call me. Okay, don't call me 'cuz I'm not giving you my phone number. You can leave me a message via MySoti.

And, of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't use this opportunity to pimp one of my own designs.



and the same design but small



Until we meet again, may you be abundant and blessed with inspiration and may you flow an abundant amount of wealth to you for bringing your inspiration to manifestation.

So, I just wouldn't feel right...

if I didn't include @bryanbrinkman's first three #DesignAShirtAWeek submissions.

Week 1


Week 2 - Seriously, Bryan, my son, Chris, would love the description for this design.


Week 3 - Seriously, maybe my son and you share the same brain. Bravo!


I've also created a squidoo lens for nb2c and one nb2c 4 adults. Both are, yes, 1. dedicated to getting my designs out there, but B. also about sharing the design experience, inspirations, and possible ways we can help each other flow and circulate more of that green. I know you know what I mean.

Happy designing to all.

Welcome

Inspiration.

September 12, 2009 (technically...since it is on at 12:35 AM) I saw an episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The second one already with that guy who was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and hosted the VMAs. The first time he was on the show, as a Twitter experiment they picked someone out of the audience and encouraged everyone to follow him on Twitter and see how many followers he'd get.

The second time that guy was on the show, they again mentioned @BryanBrinkman and that everyone should send him a nice tweet...probably to be sure to watch the VMAs.

So I tweeted him. When I viewed his profile page to see how many followers he had and what he'd been tweeting, I saw a tweet for #DesignAShirtAWeek. Well, I design shirts and I wanted in. And then there were two.

What was fun about this is that Bryan uses a website called MySoti, which is blog friendly.

And so while I haven't really decided exactly what direction to take this blog in, my initial inspiration is to invite more people to tweet with the #DesignAShirtAWeek hash tag and then pick one or two or three to share their design for the week and their inspiration for creating the design.

So, again welcome.

I plan on most of my submissions coming from my nb2c or what I consider text-speak for not born 2 conform. To me this is the attitude where originality is embraced and uniqueness reigns. And if this makes me a dork (thus my MySoti moniker, nb2cdorkbjork), so be it. I figure dorks, geeks, nerds and the like actually have it best because we tend to shun the status quo, collective consciousness and think outside the box.

In this first blog, I include my week 1 design, which was my original nb2c design. And I'll be honest, part of why it includes a skull and crossbones is 'cuz that seems to be quite a popular icon with the younger crowd.



My week two entry comes from loving the lips and coming up with something that uses them and incorporates the nb2c attitude.



And even though entry three is a little early (we'll consider every Friday official entry day), this is also one of my favorite designs 'cuz I love the glasses with the tape on the bridge and I love the idea of those who buy it having the "stones" to put it out there and tell it like it is.



It was after a couple of days that I got the idea to create two web pages for each design. One I call BIG, which as you can see above puts the design out there on full display over most of the front of the shirt.

The one I call small. Not everyone likes a design that big. Some are more subtle and like the idea of smaller with placement over the heart. And that is probably another thing that I hope to come out of this are possible tips. So here is the same design as the one above, just placed over the heart.



So, I encourage you to submit your designs via twitter and I trust that if I check out your design and love it, you'll agree to allow me to promote it in this blog.

Happy t-shirt designing and wearing.