A NaNoWriMo t-shirt, from us to you!
Press check, circa 2009.
Today I am making a pilgrimage to Babylon Burning Screenprinting. Every year around this time, someone from the staff goes there for a press check: the final proofing our of our annual t-shirt design.
Once the size of the art and the colors are given the final go-ahead, hundreds of shirts are printed and shipped off to our warehouse, where they’re packaged and mailed to Wrimos around the world. Like you!
It’s a very exciting step in the long process that is merch design.
First, we pick a designer whose work we like. Last year, the inimitable Kate Harmer of Hum Creative designed our 2010 shirt (along with the poster, stickers, keychain, and winner shirt). This year, former Community Liaison and designer extraordinaire Nancy Smith is the mastermind behind our 2011 shirt and other merchandise.
I create a spec, or a detailed description of the design or theme we’re envisioning, and send that to our designer of choice.
After that begins a back and forth between the designer and staff, who review the art and provide feedback and suggestions for how the design might be refined.
Once we unanimously agree on the final art, it’s time to send it to the screenprinters. Which brings me to my field trip today.
And this is just for the participant shirt! We go through a similar process for all the fun stuff we put in our online store: the winner shirt and mugs and posters and pens and stickers and other delightful writing gear that helps cheer you from zero to 50K.
Stay tuned for some 2011 merchandise teasers!
– Lindsey
Recent comments