public typography on graphic tees
by allyson maturey
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intro In my opinion, we don’t realize how much effort we go through when choosing a shirt to wear. We just put a shirt on and go. This easy-going way of self-expression is what intrigues me most. Our shirts know us. They probably know us too well. Is that weird? Concert Follow along as we dive into a small region in the T-shirt world. First, we’ll join all the groupies out there. Believe it or not, it’s actually hard work to follow your favorite band around. Think of all that money one spends. Nike Next stop, NikeTown. A brand founded on a handshake and a five hundred dollar trust. No one ever thought it’d be a gigantic empire, and here we are, roaming around with “Just Do It” across our chest. Superfan We’ll end in a place of fandom. Where super fans believe in miracles. Hearts bleed crimson and blue, purple and white, or whatever color it may drip out. The shirts absorb that blood and reinforce its purpose. This print represents only a wee section of the graphic tee world. May it inspire you to learn more.
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Musical note
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You may or may not own band a t-shirt. Let’s
or more specifically a song. Whatever the case,
just say that most people do, but if you don’t, a band
bands and musical groups often promote themselves
t-shirt, otherwise known as a concert t-shirt, is a
by creating these graphic tees. They will sell or
shirt that is associated with a band, concert or tour.
give t-shirts away at shows, events or even at your
A lot of times it associates with a band’s album,
local mall.
Mumford & Sons, a British folk rock band, uses a distressed, almost stamped, typeface that compliments the weathered lyrics and raspy sound.
The National, a band from Ohio, is dark, melancholy and difficult to interpret. This type choice contrasts nicely, in a way that is much simpler than the band’s lyrics. To the right, this typeface matches the playfulness of the lyrics it comes from.
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Bailey Spickler is a mechanical engineer student at the University of Kansas. In her spare time, she likes to attend concerts. Over the years she has built an outrageous collection of concert t-shirts. The collection includes over 50 shirts.
for tHe LoVe of MuSiC If you were to go on a ride with Spickler, you’d hop in her car and hear the sounds of 96.5 the Buzz. It is a radio station based in Kansas City. The genre of 96.5 the Buzz consists mostly of Alternative Rock and Rock,
“SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE PLAYLISTS.” which is exactly what Spickler enjoys listening to. A few of her favorite bands consist of Cage the Elephant, Jack White, Arctic Monkeys, Alt-J, The National and Naked and Naked and Famous.
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JACK WHITE Can you recall the last band t-shirt you purchased? It was Jack white t-shirt. What band? Jack white What concert? Jack White Concert Midland Theatre, Kansas City How much was it? $35 What’s your favorite memory attached to the shirt?
Bailey’s Jack White Tee. The typography is limited on the front of the shirt. Symbols represent the theme of the current album, however, on the backside, you will find a tour date list. Sans serif fonts are heavily used for concert tees.
Cobra Starship and 3OH!3 collaborated on this tee, as well as the tour. The type choices reflect that of the band’s logos.
A number of type applications have been applied to this particular ticket. Various sizes and location create a path to follow.
In 7th grade, I went to at Jack White concert, so it was really cool to re-live that moment 8 years later.
Weezer based this design and type choice of its seventh album, Raditude. It’s abstract and poppy colors give it a certain kind of “attitude.”
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Just do It. So, everyone knows the story of Nike. Or, maybe you
for what would become Nike. As the company began
don’t. So, if you don’t know, here is a quick rundown
to grow Bowerman and Knight hired Jeff Johnson,
of history. Take it all in.
who became invaluable for the start-up. Nike, the
Bill Bowerman and Phill Knight established Blue
name was founded in 1971, and Carolyn Davidson, an
Ribbon Sports, which established the foundation
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Oregon student designed the Nike brand mark as we know it today called the “Swoosh.”
Nike’s mission statement is worked into every piece of clothing they design. This use of bold striking type gives this hoodie all the confidence in the world.
The use of Asian scripts on Steve Prefontaine’s portrait give this tee a sense of culture and history. To the right, is a bold confidence boosting Sans Serif type. The use of the plaid pattern make the shirt fun a playful, creating a personality.
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NIKE FAQS Phill Knight wanted to name the brand “Dimension 6” instead of Nike. When Michael Jordan first saw the Air Jordan 1, he didn’t want to wear it. Shaq wore all Reebok when he met with Nike for the first time. The first “sneaker” to have a Swoosh on it wasn’t a sneaker at all, it was a soccer cleat. Phil Knight’s donations to the University of Oregon, his alma mater, are private and not through Nike. The current CEO of Nike doesn’t have any connection to the University of Oregon. Zero Gravity, a Nike ad from the 80s has a heavy influence on current ads we all see today. The use of bold type and a large period gives nike a loud voice.
Jordan is a brand within Nike. RE2PECT is a collection created to honor Derek Jeter. The use of a “2” instead of an “S” represents Jeter’s jersey number.
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Converse, an affiliate brand of Nike, has a vintage personality. The use of a slap serif and a handwritten script create nice contrast for this logo.
Hurley, also an affiliate brand, designed its logo to mimic an “h.” Using two boomerang-like shapes, you can see the shape of a capital “H.”
Steve Prefontaine, an Oregon track superstar, became a powerful ambassador for the BRS and Nike brand after he had gratuated from Oregon. But, his life was cut short at the age of 24, when he died in a tragic auto accident.
pre LiVeS on “Prefontaine’s fiery spirit lives on within Nike,” and Phil Knight has often said that he is the “soul of Nike.” Nike has since signed contracts with huge athletic stars including, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, the entire Brazilian National Soccer Team, Tiger Woods and many more. In the late ‘80s Nike built on its momentum and launched the broad yet empowering series of “Just do it” ad campaigns. “Just do it” is
“PREFONTAINE’S FIERY SPIRT LIVES ON WITHIN NIKE.” the simplest form of Nike as you may know it. Now-a-days Nike has slapped on more motivational phrases onto the face of their shirts. Popular phrases include, Go Like Hell and My thoughts are dirty but my kicks are clean. Nike’s goal is to motivate the mind and body, and using inspirational t-shirts is just a fun way to express yourself when working out, or just relaxing.
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we Believe
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Believe it or not, you’re a fan, at least, of
clothing showing their loyalty. “Rabid fans”
something. Whether or not you’re a superfan or a
are a fan base well known for their tenacious love
rabid fan, this chapter is for you.
and undying support.
Enthusiastic fans in North America are often called
Fans can easily express their love and support
“super fans,” which are fans that dress up in
through the shirts on their back. Sometimes, just on
outrageous and ostentatious costumes or
the skin of their back.
This Kansas City shirt uses a Slab Serif with strokes. Slab serifs seem to be used a lot when it comes to sports and athletic gear and tees.
The above KU tee uses a vibrating color palette, as well as a bold, Sans Serif typeface. It resembles the look of Nike. To the Right is a childs tee. It uses a playful Sans Serif to mimic a team name and number. Personally I really enjoy the typeface.
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A foam hand is a sports paraphernalia item worn on the hand to show support for a particular team. The common resembles an oversized hand with an extended index finger. Usually the surface displays a silk screened team name, logo or other graphic, such as “We Are #1.”
put Your HandS in tHe air In 1978, Geral Fauss created foam fingers to show support for his high school team to raise funds for the industrial arts club. It was also created as a project for his industrial arts class could produce themselves. The first prototype foam finger was actually made out of plywood and had a painting of a “number one” done in the school’s colors. The success of the hand led Geral Fauss to venture into sports merchandising. He made hands to sell at the 1978 Cotton Bowl game, which hosted the University of Texas and Notre Dame. Later, he founded Spirit Industries for manufacturing large masses of foam fingers. In 1979, the first polyurethane foam version of the product was produced by Spirit Industries.
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SPORT FAQS NFL Refs also receive Super Bowl Rings. Olympic gold medals are actually made of silver. Pittsburgh is the only city where all the major sports teams (MLB, NHL, NFL) have the same colors: Black and gold. MLB Baseball umpires are required to wear black underwear while on the job in case they split their pants. The silhouette on the NBA Logo is of Hall of Fame Laker Jerry West. Basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain never fouled out of a game. In 1971, Steve Chmelar constructed a giant hand out of hardware cloth and papier-mache. This photo was taken by the Associated Press and published in the Des Moines Tribune.
The Green Bay Packers “G� has been designed to look this way. It looks like it has been stretched and squished, but it is well known and a brand.
This is more of a playful tee. The type used here is hand-made to look like paint. Type made by non-professionals is called Vernacular typography.
Similar to concerts, athletic event also need tickets. The type and symbols used identify different information for fans as well as the doorman.
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Credits I would like to give a special thanks to all those who have helped me accomplish this book. Thanks to Bailey Spickler for an interview, as well as letting me use he millions of concert tees to photograph and write about. Thanks to my mother for purchasing me studio lights so that I can create stunning photographs. Thanks to all those in my design class for giving me feedback on my design. I am so grateful to be designing with such talented people. Last but not least, I’d like to thank all of the websites out there that provided me the information I needed to write the essay within this book. The websites include the following: Nike.com Wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_(person) Google definitions Teefetch.com Wikipedia.org/wiki/Foam_hand Logosoftwear.com
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