An Introduction

My name is Sarah and I have been design shirts for two years. I graduated from Southern Utah University with an Illustration major and a creative writing minor. The ideal plan was to create a web comic but that hasn't happened yet.

Instead I moved to Arizona where I worked with my aunt and learned how to apply the digital art skills I had learned in my classes and produce amazing school shirts. In the two years I have learned so much about the process just to make shirts. I never considered half of them.

Over all it has bee a good learning experience. Especially since I get to deal with clients by myself and I have more confidence to judge my skill and what they want.

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The Steps

Granted this is a huge vague detail list of what I can easily explain of what I did. No two clients were ever the same - side from any repeat orders. But I am glad I learned everything I did.

1.) Gather information from the client - mainly what they want like shirt color, design, what colors to use, how many, what sizes, etc. Sometimes this would include in person meetings, however most of it is done either through email or over the phone.

2.) Presenting the compositions - once I have enough information I create a handful of designs for them to choose from or critique, what ever is needed in order to make them happy. I will make any needed changes or even scrap the design if they have changed their mind

3.) The films - once the final design has been chosen, I would create the vinyl films that the print shop then can use to burn the screens to silk screen print. This process has become nearly second nature to me and I've learned so much about breaking down the colors, chocking the colors so they will line up correctly.

4.) Counting - this was a big part of the job when I worked physically with the shirts. We would have to count to make sure we got the exact sizes, numbers and to make sure if there were any personalization were on the correct shirts. This process was the longest.

5.) Delivery - Yes I was errand boy and would drive around the city dropping off (or picking up) shirts. i would have to get all the correct paper work and watch with anticipation as they opened the box to examine the shirts.

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Now that I have moved back to Utah, I mostly deal with steps 1 through 3. It still doesn't mean I dont have to communicate with my contractors. I do have phone calls explaining the art aspects and limits to clients about what can and can't be done with the requested budget.

Needless to say I do love what I do, and now I am trying to figure out a way to expand it. Maybe figure out how to produce my own shirts to sell. Who knows what 2019 will hold.

-Sarah