Design

Ollie Hayward Updated by Ollie Hayward

Design onboarding

Best practice = best results

To get the most out of the design process - and get things you love into production as quickly as possible - here's what we need from you before we get started

What to send us

Your existing assets
  • Any images, logos, graphics, or typefaces you want to include - please share these before we begin.
  • Layered files (PSD / AI) are ideal. They give us the most flexibility, as separate elements can be adjusted independently. That said, we can work with flattened files if a layered version isn't available.
  • High-res means 300dpi and at least 1500px on the shortest side. This ensures nothing is pixelated when printed and gives us the freedom to size designs for any purpose. Low-res assets limit what's achievable - the more we start with, the more we can do.
Text content/ Font Files

Share any lyrics, tracklists, or tour dates that might feature in the design. If you're using a specific typeface or font, send us those files too - without them, missing fonts will be automatically replaced by the our design programs default fonts

Assets that need recreating

If any existing assets need to be vectorised or rebuilt, please flag this clearly in your brief. We only recreate assets when directly requested, so calling this out upfront will save time. If you have existing mockups or packshots (designed outside of terrible*) that need recreating, include those too and we'll handle everything together.

Your brief

The more detail, the better. A strong brief means fewer back-and-forths and faster turnaround. Your brief can take any form - a written description, a design guide, a proposal deck, or a mood board. What we're looking for:

  • How you want the overall design to look and feel
  • How your existing assets should sit within the new design
  • Reference images or mood boards (we love these - they communicate style faster than words)
  • Any dream products or ideas you want to explore - share them and we'll work with our production team to bring them to life

Grey areas in a brief can lead to different interpretations, so the more specific you can be, the better the outcome

Your timeline

Share any important dates upfront - tour start dates, album announcements, campaign launches, or any other deadlines. This helps us plan and prioritise

Design specifications

If you have exact specs in mind, include them in your initial brief or email. Here are the most common things clients specify:

  • Colours: Pantone references, or a colour palette
  • Embroidery thread colours: we use Madeira Classic
  • Print sizes: grab a ruler or measuring tape if it's easier than specifying digitally
  • Garment Dyes: We use Pantone TCX systems for our custom dye program. We advise always looking at the textile dyes in person instead of onscreen owing to the huge differences between print/paper Pantone and garment colours
  • Custom Dye Style References: Spray Dye, Mineral Wash, Dip Dye, Tie Dye, Garment Dye - send us your references, but always remember that no two garments will ever be identical (we think its part of the magic!)
  • Ink types: puff, gloss, watercolour, plastisol, metallic, glow-in-the-dark, thermochromic, discharge
  • Product and garment colours

Giving feedback

Precise feedback = best results.

The first pass of a design might not be exactly what you had in mind - and that's completely normal. Entering the design process often triggers new ideas, references, and directions at every stage. It could be something small like a different blank colourway on a mockup, or something bigger like a full redesign of the artwork. Whatever you need, here are some tips to help us get there as efficiently as possible:

  • Be specific about what isn't working. "The placement feels too high" is more useful than "something feels off." The more precisely you can describe the issue, the faster we can fix it
  • Reference what you do like, not just what you don't. If part of a design is working well, tell us - it helps us understand where to focus changes and what to preserve
  • Use visuals where words fall short. A quick sketch, a screenshot with annotations, or a reference image can save a lot of back-and-forth. We love a mood board at any stage of the process
  • Consolidate your feedback. Where possible, gather all comments from everyone who needs to sign off before sending. This keeps revisions clean and avoids conflicting direction mid-round
  • Flag if the direction has shifted. If you've had a new idea or the brief has evolved, just tell us - we'd always rather know upfront than interpret feedback that doesn't quite fit the original brief

We always advise our artists to think carefully about what kinds of products they make and the impact these will have. All of the below have transparent, sustainable supply chains and high-quality blanks suitable for both touring and mass production:

For extra inspiration on what's possible, browse our products deck.

Questions?

Drop us a line at design@terrible.group - we're happy to help guide you through any of the above and we're also happy to get on a call or meet in person to talk more about your project. If you need to look at Pantone books or garment colours/TCX books in person, request a time to visit us!

How did we do?

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