The Euros are coming up, and 24 nations have their hopes set high on winning the cup for the folks back home. The hot potato here are legal restrictions imposed by UEFA, but you can still ride the crest of the football craze by creating footy-related designs that fans will want to wear. We’ve put together 5 savvy ways for you to create stuff that people love.
Important: A word of warning. Football associations have copyrights as well, so please don’t model your designs too closely on trademark logos. That’s why our legal service looks at every design submission, and – if in doubt – reserves the right to reject it.
What can you do?
For argument’s sake, let’s assume your customers support the 3-lions’ team and you’re looking to offer an inexpensive supporter’s T-shirt. You’d be able to find a cheap T-shirt on any high street, so why pay more for a Spreadshirt tee? Simple: the highstreet stuff hasn’t yet discovered your secret weapon:
Being funny or emotive is the key to successful designs.
#1 Sloganeering-based Designs
Find a slogan or quote that could spurn on your customers’ team. You can take the slogan to come up with a great typography design or take it as a stepping stone for visualising your own idea.
- Don’t come home too soon
- Let’s go all the way
- It’s do or die
- Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose.
- Three lions on a shirt
#2 Show your colours
Supporters have the closest attachment to the country’s name and colours. Bring the colours, symbols and ideas to the fore that come to mind in connection with a country!
#3 Bring hashtags to life
What do these hashtags mean to you? Can you think a fun take on any of these hashtags? Let them inspire you to come up with a great design idea!
– #ontheball
– #lovefootball
– #staystrong
– #totalfootball
– #lumpenproletariat*
*Fun fact: The UK press uses the term lumpen proletariat (a term invented by Karl Marx to refer to the rowdy working class) to refer to those fans who adhere the “no solids on match day” mantra. You can see these chaps attending the Sunday matches, delirious with joy in the early afternoon.
#4 Visualise a moniker
Every country has a nickname. Danish Dynamite, Azzuri, Wunderteam etc. Can you think of a fun or passionate take a country moinker? Here’s a list of nicknames from European teams.
#5 Rekindle nostalgia
Have a retro take on a football team. For example, you can idolise a legendary player or make use of a year or date that correlates with a country’s big success. Think England ’66, Germany ’74 or Italy ’82.
While it’s nice to see quite a number of football-related designs in Spreadshirt’s Marketplace, we hasten to add that there’s still some room for improvement. And that’s where you come in – the ball is in your park!
Do you need help with realising your design ideas? Or do you have any questions regarding copyrights or any other issues? We look forward to your feedback in the comments below!
