So a few months back, me and my staff were having a meeting about properly starting up merchandise online, and one member brought up the idea that I should design the merchandise myself. I had recently started learning photoshop due to the DeviantArt group I had just gotten involved with and had been telling people how I really liked this digital medium (less messy!) and my staff had taken note of my new enthusiasm.
Now, there are a lot of musician designed products out here in Japan, but from my experience, usually the musician shares his ideas with a proper designer that has the skills and the designer makes the product while discussing with the musician, making changes along the way.
Nothing wrong with that, although I considered this more producing a product than designing. So, being the Self-masochistic fool that I am, I agreed to make a 100% self designed product to kick things off.
After that was decided, I was given a few lessons in merch making such as printing ink, fabric and so on. Boring stuff, but important nonetheless. For example, the less colors I use, the less the final cost would be, hence fans would get a better deal etc.
After this crash course, We decided on what to make (T-shirts and mini towels) and after a few days of head spinning I had my goal set up.
As it was my first design, I wanted it to be simple and also something that could be used everyday. (I always think that a lot of band merch look like souvenirs that you can't really use or wear anytime/where you please).
I wanted the FAKE? skull logo as the focal point, but I also wanted to play around with it.
So, now that I had my goal, some preschool education and red hot motivation coming out of my ears, I was ready to go. And it was at this point my staff dropped the bomb on me...
"Please do it in illustrator"
"Errr...ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!!!??"
Now, if you've been following me on Twitter, you would have seen my semi rants early in the morning. That was when I was learning how to use illustrator. (now you know what I was doing!)
After about 2 weeks of learning that photoshop is nothing like illustrator and adobe get their kicks from fucking with your mind, I finally got to the point of creativity. Thank the loooord!!
During a 1 month span and working in whatever spare time I had, I came up with 25 designs for the T-shirt and about 15 for the towel and had fun.
I did them in different mediums, mostly illustrator, but some in photoshop (Ha! You know where to shove those rules!) and also a whole bunch of hand drawn sketches, a couple which were super intricate and pretty badass, if I do say so myself.
In the end though, I decided on probably the most simple of the lot.
Not only did it clear all the goals that I set out to do, but it just seemed like the right one as my first design. Most importantly, I wanted to wear and use it.
Below is how it turned out. Not bad I reckon. Check it out...
T-Shirt Front - Nothing Real...You better believe it!
Close up of Front design - Size is not everything. Check out that little bad boy!
Close up of Back design - Very Gundam looking I think...
Sleeve - No, a child did not scribble on my shirt...that is my signature...
Towel - Skulls, skulls, skulls!!!
Close up of Towel - Just in case you missed it...skulls!!!
Oh and let me introduce to Norm - who hangs around the studio and looks after it while we're not there. He was kind enough to model the towel for me (T-shirt was too big!). Looking good there, Norm ol' chap!
Merchandise goes on sale at on September 24th at 10am.
You can reach the online store through www.hedfuc.com/goods/index.html
or directly at www.item-navi.jp/artistdeli/main/actionNameTxt/ctgry/cmdtyFlagTxt/sr/ctc/FAKE?cpid=1001.html
Unfortunately, the store doesn't do overseas shipping. My sincerest apologies for this. We will try and get some kind of system going for people overseas in the close future.
Much love and creativity :)
KEN
..Those are great! Although I am curious to see some of your other designs as well ;). But I especially love the towel. Hopefully the shipping woes won't give you too much trouble. Thanks as always for working so hard! ..
Illustrator is so hard to figure out at first, especially when you're used to Photoshop... I'm proud of you for keeping with it! One day you'll be a pro. I still have to use it basically every day.
The design looks gooood! Simple is great. Love the skulls.
You should do ebay then lol ..or accept paypal, and then YOU can ship it LoL....
....but no really, it's a shame you don't do overseas. Sucks for the rest of us who want some pretty nice gear...
I like it ! ..Your staff was right : you really made a good job !....I'll wait for the overseas store ... may be one day, right ?....
....Kisses from France....
....
....... Oh, I almost forgot ... Hi Norm !!!....
..
Don't I know the frustration of being someone used to the old world of paper and pencil and canvas and brush (and often these days, wood and jigsaw) - only to be faced with the surreal task of adapting my brain to pixels and cut/paste and all the other electronic hooha. *grin*
Your hard work and frustration turned out well, though, and I'll make sure to get links up on our East West Tribe site and subsites - though most of our current members are in the West for now (we have seen an uptick in registrations from Asia this year however). Hope you get that international access worked out soon...
Completely and utterly kick-ass. I like skulls!
Digital art rocks so hard, I totally agree. All the sweetly whispered fuck yous to your screen paid off. Your first design is great. Love the choice in colors, theme and font. And your signature on the sleeve? Icing on the cake.
I'll be waiting with bated breath for the international merchandise. I'll be saving up my pennies until then!
Wow..I love the design of the Shirt and the Towel <3
They are really amazing. You did a great job with that Ken.
And I really hope that the overseas fans can purchase them soon, because I would love to have both <3
Keep up with your great work.
Love from Germany,
Nana
Just simply and clean, I like it. And that skull is just... kind of cute :P nice job, man!