Behind the Scenes: The Creative Process of NorthPoint's Panther Graphic Tee

Ever wonder what goes into creating the perfect graphic tee? We’re pulling back the curtain to give you an inside look at how our latest masterpiece, the Panther Graphic Tee, came to life. It’s a journey filled with creativity, collaboration, and a whole lot of fun – all our favorites 😊 Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Brainstorming Magic

Every great design starts with a spark of inspiration. For us, that meant gathering the team, grabbing some coffee (or for our crazy non-caffeine drinkers, just straight adrenaline), and diving into a brainstorming session. The idea to do a collection of awesomely designed graphic tees had been in the air for a while, but now we needed to dive deeper. We discussed our goals, tossed around ideas for themes, and researched what’s trending in the retail world. What could we create that not only shows both our branding and creativity, but also resonates with our audience? We explored everything from classic band tees to abstract art before deciding to focus on something we’re all passionate about: music. And thus, the concept for our Panther Graphic Tee began to take shape.

Step 2: Sketching and Conceptualizing

Armed with inspiration from classic band tees, we started sketching out ideas. The original concept was to put a NorthPoint twist on iconic band designs like Pink Floyd, Green Day, and Blink182, but we quickly realized that we wanted to go broader.

We shifted gears to focus on music genres instead of specific bands, eventually zeroing in on the gritty, rebellious vibe of Rock and the huge array of design elements that came with it.  We made a list of things that are often associated with Rock like snakes, skulls, panthers, eagles, lightning bolts, and fire, and just for fun plugged these items into Adobe Firefly to see what it would come up with. Let’s just say….we had some wonky looking snakes and flames 😳

With all of these elements in mind, our team went back to the drawing board to come up with some original concepts.  The result? A fierce panther design that beautifully embodies the rock vibe we were going for! With an Iron Maiden inspired font applied, it was finally complete.

Step 3: Choosing the Perfect Tee

Before we could do anything else, we needed to find the perfect canvas for our design. We ordered up some samples of a few different t-shirt styles and had a mini fashion show right in our office. We felt the fabric, checked the fit, and debated the pros and cons of each option until we found the one. Once we decided on the perfectly on-theme Crystal Tie Dye Tee, it was time to get down to the nitty-gritty of designing the art.

Step 4: Mockups and Visualizing

With our design in hand, we moved on to creating mockups. This step is crucial because it helps us visualize how the art will look on the actual T-shirt. We played around with the size, placement, and color schemes until we hit that sweet spot with a full front design and a small NorthPoint logo (but on-theme, of course) to the back yoke of the shirt. Once we were satisfied with the look, it was time to think about the full package.

Step 5: Packaging with a Personal Touch

We believe that the unboxing experience should be just as exciting as the product itself. For the Panther Graphic Tee, we wanted to keep things sleek and stylish, so we opted for a branded polymailer. But we didn’t stop there. To add a retail flair, we included a sticker hang-tag featuring the same Panther design. Not only do you get a killer tee, but you also get a sticker to slap on your water bottle or laptop. And because we love a good surprise, we added an extra hang tag with a QR code that links to this very blog—so you can share in the behind-the-scenes fun!

Step 6: Production Time

With everything approved and finalized, it was time to move into production. The tees were screenprinted with our design, and the hang tags and stickers were printed to perfection. There’s nothing quite like seeing your vision come to life in physical form!

Step 7: Pack It Up

With everything produced, we were now ready to add our hang tags and pack up our tees into the beautiful polymailers that match.  NorthPoint’s fulfillment team gave us a sneak peak into their process (everyone say hi to Eddie!).

Step 8: Epic Live Show Photoshoot

Our photos in office just didn’t do this tee justice, so we took it into its element…a live show. Nothing screams “rock graphic tee” more than a lead guitarist rocking out on stage, right!?

Step 9: Launch and Celebrate

Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for—launch day! We added the Panther Graphic Tee to our swag store, whipped up a banner design that matched the tee’s vibe, and sent out an email blast to let you all know it’s available. And just like that, our Panther Graphic Tee was ready to find its way into your wardrobe.

Creating the Panther Graphic Tee was a blast, and we’re thrilled to share it with you. We hope you love it as much as we do. So, what are you waiting for? Head over to our store and grab yours today!

Rock on, NorthPoint fam! 🤘🏼⚡