Adobe Photoshop
Band Shirt Design
Outside Dog is a local band formed just a few years ago. Their personality feels relaxed and fun, but with a gritty undertone that gives their music character and individuality.
Client
During my internship with University Graphic Systems, I designed a custom band shirt for Outside Dog. From concept development through print production, this project allowed me to work through the full design-to-production process in a professional environment.
Project
To better understand the band’s identity, I developed a moodboard that reflected their aesthetic direction. They wanted something slightly edgy but still playful and approachable. Incorporating dogs into the design felt like a must. This is a large theme in their branding and is continually revisited. The moodboard explores grunge textures, band photography, bold typography, and vintage-inspired graphics.
Adobe Photoshop
I began the design process in Photoshop, starting with the original photo below. I converted the image to black and white and added noise to introduce texture and grit. A solid color adjustment layer with a blending mode established the color of the image and transformed the original into a stylized, high-contrast graphic suitable for apparel printing.
Adobe Illustrator
The band name was hand-lettered in Procreate and translated into vector format in Adobe Illustrator, refining anchor points and adjusting for clarity. Additional design details were added in Illustrator, ending in the final adaption of the design.
Production
The final design was produced using the Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing method. We printed the artwork onto a specialized transfer film, applied a powder adhesive to the print, and cured it using a heat press. The cured transfer was then heat pressed onto the garment, resulting in a durable, high-quality print.
