Design Objective | T-shirt Design Competition | Print Design
Designing a screen-printed t-shirt with the intent of evoking emotion with the audience is the overall goal of this design composition. Limitations for the design included a four-color composition that required the design to be compatible with the contrasting fifth color of the t-shirt. The design of the shirt will intentionally represent the state of North Carolina with the objective of creating an appealing display that will encourage people to obtain and wear the garment.
This design won the gold medal in the t-shirt design competition at the 2019 SkillsUSA North Carolina Conference.
NC Skills USA
T-Shirt Design Competition | Print Design
Design Brief
This t-shirt design represents the state of North Carolina in many different ways. The first three elements within the design allow the viewer to see the vast geographic landscapes and horizons that North Carolina offers—from the Blue Ridge Mountains and Piedmont to the Atlantic Ocean. The two flowers displayed on the bottom left side of the design are there to draw emphasis to North Carolina’s state flower, the dogwood. The Eastern Box Turtle is also another element that represents the state. These turtles are actually on the endangered species list; therefore, the turtle is intended to send two messages: this is North Carolina’s state reptile, and this living land dweller is considered vulnerable and endangered as a species native to this state.
Each design element from the typography to the graphics are strategically placed to unify all the pieces together creating balance among the various color schemes. Color placement within the composition establishes a hierarchy of shapes as well as typographical elements. Implementing Gestalt principles in the design process strengthened the design in a way that is simple, yet detailed.
