MERCH DESIGN

BREAKING DOWN THE PROCESS

LET’S COOK UP SOME MERCH

My goal is to help your brand build a distinctive, story-driven apparel line. Something locals actually want to wear that hopefully become repeat bestsellers. Not just branded stock tees.

Every design I create is intentional, rooted in story-driven branding, and crafted to resonate with your core audience while still feeling fresh and collectible.

EACH CUSTOM MERCH PACKAGE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

  • One fully custom, multi location, hand-drawn design (one primary concept)

  • Thoughtfully crafted details to build brand recognition

  • Merch mockups + color combo suggestions (to approve final look before production)

  • I’ll coordinate all printing & production needs, whether it’s done in-house or through one of my trusted merch partners

  • Unlimited commercial usage for merch use (Artwork may not be used as a logo or brand identity)

  • Design & design elements can be used for supporting merch (prints, koozies, etc.)

  • Includes 2 rounds of revisions (Additional revisions at my hourly rate)

  • Final production costs are billed separately after artwork approvals.

  • We start by digging into the heart of the project: your ideas, story, audience, and overall vibe. This can be a collaborative strategy session or I can develop initial direction independently based on your brand and market. Either way, this phase is about setting a strong creative foundation before any design begins.

  • With direction in place, I design multiple fully custom merch concepts built around storytelling and real wearability. You’ll receive complete design presentations with mockups, garment pairings, and visual context so you can see how each idea lives in the real world. From there, we review feedback and refine direction together.

  • We fine-tune the chosen concept through intentional revision rounds, dialing in every detail until it feels right. Once approved, I prepare clean, production-ready files and ensure everything is set up correctly for printing.

  • Final files are delivered and approved, and the final invoice is issued. From there, if it’s not made in house, I’ll lead production coordination to make sure your designs translate properly into finished garments without issues.

WHY THIS PROCESS WORKS AND STANDS APART

Concept-First, Not Graphic-First Thinking    

Instead of starting with a logo on a shirt, every project begins with story, audience, and intent. This ensures the merch isn’t just visually appealing, it has meaning behind it and feels like something people actually want to wear.

Illustration of a sailboat with orange sails and a logo that says Saltbox Creative.

Designed To Tell A Story & Sell

Every design is built with intention, rooted in story, identity, and emotional connection. But it’s also grounded in real-world wearability and demand. The goal is merch that people don’t just like visually, but actually want to buy, wear, and come back for again.

Line drawing of a sailboat with large orange sails and the logo 'Saltbox Creative' on the upper sail.

Production Without The Guesswork

Once designs are finalized, everything is prepped for print with production in mind: correct sizing, placement, color considerations, and file setup handled for you so you don’t have to. I can also coordinate directly with your printer if needed, so you’re not stuck translating design files or worrying about costly production mistakes. It’s built to move from concept to product smoothly and confidently.

Illustration of a sailboat with two sails, one featuring the logo 'Saltbox Creative' and a leaf design.