Design By Humans (DBH) provides a platform for artists to share their creativity and for customers to find unique, eye-catching apparel. If you’re an aspiring artist on DBH, understanding the design process is crucial for crafting winning designs. This guide will take you step-by-step from inspiration to submission, ensuring you have all the tools to make your designs stand out in the competitive world of t-shirt design making processes.
Table of Contents
- Finding Your Inspiration
- Setting Up Your Canvas: Technical Requirements
- Designing for DBH: Creative Guidelines
- Prepping Your Submission
- Submitting Your Design
- FAQ Section
- Conclusion
Finding Your Inspiration
The first step in the design making process is, of course, finding your inspiration. Thankfully, the world is full of potential sources! Consider exploring themes that resonate with you and your target audience:
- Pop Culture: Popular movies, TV shows, games, and memes offer endless design opportunities.
- Hobbies & Interests: Are you passionate about skateboarding, cooking, or music? Let these passions fuel your designs.
- Current Events: Design around trending topics or social movements to capture a timely feel.
- Nature & Animals: Draw inspiration from the beauty of the natural world, incorporating animals, plants, and landscapes.
- Emotions & Concepts: Explore designs that evoke specific feelings or represent abstract ideas.
Take a look at some successful DBH designs and try to analyze what inspired them. This can give you a good understanding of what works well on the platform.
Setting Up Your Canvas: Technical Requirements
Before you start figuring out how to create your own hoodie design (or any design for DBH), it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the technical requirements. These specifications ensure your design translates seamlessly to the final printed product:
- Color Mode: Your design must be created and submitted in RGB color mode, 8-bit. This is crucial because RGB is the standard for web-based images, and DBH uses these images for display and printing.
- Resolution: For raster images (created in programs like Photoshop), your design should have a resolution of 150 DPI (Dots Per Inch). This resolution strikes a balance between image quality and file size, ideal for online display and printing.
- Sizing: DBH offers different print areas for their products, so make sure your design fits the chosen area:
- Standard: 18″ x 24″
- Oversized: 30″ x 40″
- All-over: 42″ x 56″ (recommended for all-over print products)
While raster images have a specific DPI requirement, vector graphics (created in programs like Illustrator) don’t have a DPI setting. However, you must ensure all strokes and text are expanded before submitting your vector file.
Designing for DBH: Creative Guidelines
DBH has specific creative guidelines to guarantee the quality and originality of the designs on its platform. Let’s go over them one by one.
Originality is Key
DBH has a strict policy against plagiarism. Simply taking an image from the internet and modifying it with a filter or automatic tracing tool is not acceptable. While you can be inspired by other designs, your final submission must be your own unique creation. Make sure your design stands out in the sea of “design by humans” submissions.
Seamless All-Over Designs
All-over print products at DBH utilize a “cut and sew” production process. This means the design is printed on raw fabric, then cut and sewn to create the final garment. It’s important to consider how this process might affect the alignment of your design across the seams.
Opt for patterns and abstract designs that don’t rely on perfect alignment across seams. Designs that attempt to precisely align across seams might appear mismatched due to the manufacturing process.
Think Beyond the Box
Go beyond simple textures, brushstrokes, or repetitive elements. Successful DBH designs typically have a strong concept and a well-thought-out composition. Think about how your design will interact with the t-shirt as a canvas, creating a visually engaging piece.
Back Prints are Welcome
DBH allows back prints, as long as they are conceptually relevant to your front design. A well-integrated front and back print can create a cohesive and impactful design.
Prepping Your Submission
Before submitting your design to Design By Humans, you need to prepare two specific images:
- Placement Image: This image is 650 x 450 pixels and showcases your design mocked up on the chosen product. It will be used on the design detail page to give customers a visual representation of how the design will look on the product.
- Art Preview Image: Also 650 x 450 pixels, this image displays your entire design without any product mock-up. This will be used on both the design detail page and the voting browse section.
You are not required to submit high-resolution artwork at this stage. If your design is chosen as a winner, you will receive an email notification with instructions on providing the high-resolution file and other necessary assets.
Working with RGB
Ensure both your placement and art preview images are in RGB color mode. While you can convert a CMYK design to RGB, it’s best to create your design in RGB from the beginning to avoid any color discrepancies. To convert a CMYK image to RGB in Photoshop, go to “Image” > “Mode” > “RGB Color.”
Submitting Your Design
The submission process on DBH is straightforward. You will need to create an account and follow the instructions on the submission page. Pay attention to deadlines, contest information, and relevant submission categories.
FAQ Section
What happens if my design is chosen as a winner?
If your design is chosen, you will be notified by email. You’ll be asked to provide high-resolution artwork and other files as per DBH guidelines. Winning designs earn royalties based on sales.
Can I use models in my placement image?
Yes, you can use models in your placement image. This can help customers better visualize how the design will look when worn.
Where can I find resources like model images or design templates?
DBH provides helpful resources for artists on their website, including model images and design templates, to assist with creating professional-looking submissions.
Conclusion
Creating successful designs for Design By Humans requires a combination of creative inspiration, an understanding of the platform’s guidelines, and attention to technical details. By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to crafting designs that captivate customers and earn you recognition. Don’t be afraid to experiment and develop your own unique style, and be sure to utilize the helpful resources provided by DBH. Good luck with your submissions!