Ways to Design a Custom Work Shirts With Company Logo

28 Dec Ways to Design a Custom Work Shirts With Company Logo

Designing custom work shirts with company logo is an excellent strategy to enhance your business’s visibility while fostering a sense of unity and pride among your employees. Crafting the perfect shirt design may initially seem challenging, but fear not — the process can be both straightforward and rewarding. By following these tips, you can ensure that your custom work shirts effectively showcase your company’s brand and logo, making a lasting impression on both customers and team members alike.

Choose the Right Shirt Style

The first step is selecting the right shirt style for your needs. Consider the following factors:

Type of Work

What type of work does your staff perform? For office and retail environments, a polo or button-down shirt is likely suitable. If employees are doing manual labor, a more durable tee or thick cotton shirt is better. Think about mobility needs too. A tight undershirt won’t allow tools to fit in pockets.

Comfort and Fit

Keep in mind that employees will be wearing these shirts for hours at a time. Seek lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton, plus a generous, relaxed fit. Ensure the material and cut provides sufficient room to move and stretch.

Brand Image

Does your company have a formal and professional brand image? Then polo shirts and button-downs are likely the way to go. Or is your business cool and casual? T-shirts and henleys can complement a laidback brand personality.

Uniformity

Some businesses want all staff to wear the exact same work shirts to achieve uniformity. Others take a more flexible approach, offering several shirt colors and styles that still align with the overall brand image. Decide which approach fits your company culture.

Budget

Custom-embroidered shirts often cost more than printed tees. While embroidery offers a distinguished look, it also limits design capabilities compared to printing. Consider your budget constraints when selecting shirt styles.

Choose Customization Method: Embroidery vs. Printing

The two main methods for adding custom logos and designs to work shirts are embroidery and printing. Which option is best for your business?

Embroidery

This technique uses high-speed automated machines to stitch your company name, logo, or other design onto shirts. The resulting embroidery has an elegant dimensional textured look. However, the stitch count limits detail and complexity. Embroidery works best for text or simple block designs. It’s pricier than printing but highly durable, lasting through countless industrial washes.

Printing

Modern printing methods like direct-to-garment or sublimation give you more design flexibility. Print full-color detailed logos, photographs, graphic elements, and even all-over patterned designs. The imprint sits flat on the shirt surface instead of having a stitch texture. Printed shirts usually cost less per unit than embroidery, though the designs don’t withstand industrial laundering as well.

Combination

When it comes to outfitting a cohesive and professional team, many companies opt for a combination of techniques to create custom work shirts with their company logo. This strategic approach involves incorporating both embroidery and printing to achieve a harmonious blend of visual interest and durability. By embroidering the company logo onto the shirts, a touch of sophistication and permanence is added, ensuring a polished and long-lasting representation of the brand.

Additionally, extra design flourishes are introduced through the printing process, allowing for creative details that enhance the overall aesthetic. However, it’s essential to strike a balance and avoid going overboard with too many elements to maintain a clean and professional look for the custom work shirts. This blended approach not only ensures a visually appealing uniformity among team members but also maximizes the longevity and impact of the company logo on the apparel.

Select Shirt Colors

Choosing shirt colors may seem like an aesthetic decision, but color selection impacts visibility, brand recognition, and employee morale. Follow these tips when picking shades for custom work shirts:

• Stick to your brand colors if they exist, using the prime color on the main shirt fabric. Accent with secondary colors on collars, sleeves, or side panels.
• White or light shirts help logos pop. But they also show dirt, making them impractical for hands-on jobs.
• Avoid black or dark shirts for safety reasons. They don’t reflect enough light outdoors at night.
• Consider offering a couple of different color options to satisfy employee preferences. Just ensure they coordinate.
• Use colored shirts to quickly identify employees’ roles: blue for sales, green for customer service, etc.
• Know any color restrictions and uniform guidelines for certain industries. For example, healthcare workers often wear white or light blue.

Choose the Right Logo Format

Your logo is the centerpiece of any custom work shirt design. Follow these guidelines to ensure it looks crisp, polished, and proportional:

• Use logo vector art, not low-quality JPG or PNG images. Vector logos scale cleanly to any size.
• Convert the logo to single-color artwork if embroidered. Embroidery can’t replicate color gradients.
• Size the logo appropriately based on placement. Chest designs look best at 3 to 4 inches wide.
• Let the logo stand alone. Don’t clutter the design with excessive text or extra elements.
• Consider simplifying detailed logos or removing taglines. Intricate emblem graphics can get lost in small sizes.
• Resize logo elements proportionally. Don’t stretch or warp parts of the logo.
• Leave some blank space around logos so they don’t feel cramped.
• Make sure any text used with logos is large enough to read from a distance.

Figure Out Logo Placement

Where you position the company logo on the shirt matters both aesthetically and functionally. Some logo placement tips:

• The chest is the most prominent spot. It’s visible when jackets or accessories are worn over the shirt.
• Placing logos near the shoulder enables easy identification when employees have their backs turned.
• Hip or sleeve logos offer a more unique alternative to chest placement.
• Don’t put logos too low near the hem. They can get obscured when the shirt is tucked in.
• If adding a back logo, align it directly with the front/chest design for consistency.
• Keep logos away from seams and pockets to avoid distortion issues.
• Position embroidered logos away from placket openings where stress can cause stitch damage.
• Allow adequate space between multiple logos or design elements. Don’t let them bleed together visually.

Personalize Shirts With Names

Including employee names or initials on work shirts fosters team unity and personalization. Follow these name personalization tips:

• Get consent first. Not all employees want their names on shirts, especially in public-facing roles.
• Place names on the chest opposite the logo for balance. Right chest logos pair nicely with left chest names.
• Make sure the name text is legible from a distance, at least 3/4 inch tall.
• Use a clean sans-serif font for names and initials to ensure readability.
• Limit names to 10 characters or less if embroidering. Long names are hard to fit.
• Print names in dark thread on light shirts and vice versa so they stand out.
• Consider putting job titles or departments under names to identify roles.
• Only allow preferred names or nicknames if they maintain professionalism.

Add Dimension With Side Panels

For a modern dimensional look, add side panel shirt inserts that use contrasting fabrics or complementary colors. Some tips for utilizing side panels:

• Opt for soft comfortable panel fabrics like cotton knits—not stiff uncomfortable materials.
• Panels shouldn’t wrap fully around the torso. Stop them at the sides.
• Size panels appropriately based on shirt fit. Wider shirts need bigger panels.
• Panel height can range from just above the hip to nearly the underarm area.
• Match the panel color to a secondary brand color for interest.
• Print extra logos or design elements on the panels as accents.
• Side piping can delineate the panel edges for a clean finish.
• Contrasting panels help team members stand out at events and publicity photos.

Upgrade With Performance Fabrics

Regular cotton shirts have their limitations, especially for those working long active shifts. Consider using technical performance fabrics:

• Moisture-wicking draws sweat away from the skin, keeping employees cool and dry.
• Antimicrobial fabrics inhibit odor-causing bacteria growth.
• UPF/UV protection blocks harmful sun exposure for outdoor workers.
• Stain resistance repels splatters and spills on the job.
• Wrinkle resistance keeps shirts looking crisp without ironing.
• Stretch fabrics allow ease of movement during physical activities.
• Breathable meshes ventilate better than solid fabrics.
• Safety features like high visibility colors and reflective strips boost visibility.

Just test fabrics first—some high-tech materials feel scratchy or synthetic compared to soft cotton. And consult any industry regulations related to workwear fabrics.

Make It Shine With Metallic Details

For a touch of literal shine, add eye-catching metallic accents when designing custom work shirts:

• Metallic print inks containing silver, gold, or other shimmery pigments.
• Lurex threading is sewn into embroidery for subtle sparkle.
• Burnout fabric techniques dissolve away fibers to reveal metallic meshes.
• Foil printing that stamps shirts with glossy silver or gold foil designs.
• Metallic appliques and patches that attach shiny embroidered graphics.
• Sublimation printing transforms polyester fibers themselves into metal-like prints.

A little metallic goes a long way. Use it minimally on logos, name text, or complementary design elements. Too much bling can look unprofessional and garish.

Make It Official With Title Patches

Adding custom title patches elevates work shirts from generic to official business attire. Here are some title patch tips:

• Place 1 to 2-inch patches near the shoulders or chest where visible.
• Include essential info like “Staff,” “Manager,” “Security,” or department names.
• Opt for basic black, white or colored patches that coordinate with shirt shades.
• Border shapes like circles, squares, shields or rectangles contain patch designs.
• Enclose title text in a border shape for a professional framing effect.
• Embroider patches instead of printing for a dimensional texture.
• Attach patches firmly with iron-on adhesives to avoid loosening over time.

Title patches work for customer-facing employees or powerful internal roles. But not all positions require this extra embellishment. Pick selectively.

Final Review

Before submitting your company work shirt designs for production, give them one final review:

• Do the shirts effectively convey your brand image and identity?
• Is all text legible in small and large sizes?
• Do embroidered elements fall within stitch count limits?
• Are complex designs simplified for production capabilities?
• Is there enough contrast between shirt colors and logos/designs?
• Do any design elements or placements pose work safety risks?
• Are woven brand labels included for authenticity?
• Will employees actually want to wear the shirts proudly?

Making revisions at the design stage is much easier than fixing issues after shirts are printed and embroidered. Take the time to perfect all details—your organization will be represented out there through these shirts!

FAQs

What file types do printers and embroiderers need for designs?

Vector files like .AI, .EPS, and .PDF work best for printing. Embroiderers need .DST files compatible with commercial embroidery machines. Some also accept .JPG, .PNG, and .TIFF but vector is preferred.

What parts of a shirt design can be embroidered?

Embroidery can go anywhere on a shirt, but flat broad areas like the back and chest provide the most room to work. Avoid seams, intricate contours and small spaces.

How many logo colors can embroidery replicate?

Commercial embroidery machines are limited to 10-12 thread colors per design. So embroidered logos should be simplified to that color range.

What’s better for detailed custom designs—printing or embroidery?

Printing is better for photographic images, lots of colors, and finer details. Embroidery can’t match that level of intricacy but provides nice bold dimensional text.

How do you ensure shirt color consistency when ordering more?

Request all batches from the same dye lot if reordering the same shirts. Dye lots identify runs of fabric in the same color—different lots can vary slightly.

Conclusion

Designing custom embroidered or printed work shirts for your staff requires careful thought. But the investment pays off through increased brand exposure, team unity, and employee satisfaction. Just be sure to select comfortable quality shirts, nail down the right branding approach for your company, secure crisp logo files, and work closely with your production partner during the proofing process. 

Before long, the impact of these custom work shirts with company logo will be evident everywhere your business operates. Exploring small business ideas with little money or free can be a strategic move for entrepreneurs. From increased brand visibility to a more cohesive team appearance, the benefits are manifold. Consider innovative approaches like leveraging social media, creating a unique online presence, or even adopting cost-effective branding strategies such as having your staff proudly don branded shirts—these initiatives can leave a lasting professional impression on clients and customers without breaking the bank.