IXD Orientation T-Shirt Design

IXD Orientation T-Shirt Design

Project Overview

Role

Visual Design

Volunteer Recruiter

Activity Leader

Tools

Figma

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Timeline

8 hours

Background

An Interaction Design Program Coordinator selected me to design the official t-shirt for our program's 2024 new student orientation. I was given full creative freedom over the final design, with the only constraints being technical—it had to be single-sided and limited to two colours.

In addition to designing the t-shirt, I was tasked with creating and leading a scavenger hunt during orientation. I also assembled a team of ten student volunteers to accompany groups of incoming students throughout the event.

Design Objective

How might I design a fun and memorable t-shirt for the 2024 orientation that captures the essence and spirit of the Interaction Design program?

Concepts and Iterations

This design went through 7 fast-paced rounds of basic iteration, including the final design printed on the t-shirts. Here is a brief overview of my process:

This design went through 7 fast-paced rounds of basic iteration, including the final design printed on the t-shirts. Here is a brief overview of my process:

This design went through 7 fast-paced rounds of basic iteration, including the final design printed on the t-shirts. Here is a brief overview of my process:

2024 Highlight

The first iteration centred around making the year the focal point. I wanted to emphasize it since it will be a memorable milestone for incoming students. This design was not impactful at this stage. It was too simple and didn't communicate anything relevant about the program, other than its name. With that in mind, I shifted my approach drastically with the next iteration.

The first iteration centred around making the year the focal point. I wanted to emphasize it since it will be a memorable milestone for incoming students. This design was not impactful at this stage. It was too simple and didn't communicate anything relevant about the program, other than its name. With that in mind, I shifted my approach drastically with the next iteration.

The first iteration centred around making the year the focal point. I wanted to emphasize it since it will be a memorable milestone for incoming students. This design was not impactful at this stage. It was too simple and didn't communicate anything relevant about the program, other than its name. With that in mind, I shifted my approach drastically with the next iteration.

IXDA Logo

The next iteration took a text banner approach, using the IXDA logo as a holding element. While it was an improvement over the previous version, which was just text, it still felt too stiff and flat.

The next iteration took a text banner approach, using the IXDA logo as a holding element. While it was an improvement over the previous version, which was just text, it still felt too stiff and flat.

The next iteration took a text banner approach, using the IXDA logo as a holding element. While it was an improvement over the previous version, which was just text, it still felt too stiff and flat.

Figma–Inspired

I considered highlighting some of the design tools commonly used by students in our program, which led to the Figma UI-themed approach. This choice better reflected the work done within the program but failed to reflect the program’s nature at a broader scale. However, I felt this was a step in the right direction, so I continued with similar concepts.

I considered highlighting some of the design tools commonly used by students in our program, which led to the Figma UI-themed approach. This choice better reflected the work done within the program but failed to reflect the program’s nature at a broader scale. However, I felt this was a step in the right direction, so I continued with similar concepts.

I considered highlighting some of the design tools commonly used by students in our program, which led to the Figma UI-themed approach. This choice better reflected the work done within the program but failed to reflect the program’s nature at a broader scale. However, I felt this was a step in the right direction, so I continued with similar concepts.

Desktop UI

Inspired by the previous Figma UI theme, my final concept exploration used a desktop window UI as the main text-holding element. As shown in the iterations below, I explored various other symbolic elements to layer around the surrounding area, creating that feeling of depth and dynamism lacking in previous explorations.

Inspired by the previous Figma UI theme, my final concept exploration used a desktop window UI as the main text-holding element. As shown in the iterations below, I explored various other symbolic elements to layer around the surrounding area, creating that feeling of depth and dynamism lacking in previous explorations.

Inspired by the previous Figma UI theme, my final concept exploration used a desktop window UI as the main text-holding element. As shown in the iterations below, I explored various other symbolic elements to layer around the surrounding area, creating that feeling of depth and dynamism lacking in previous explorations.

Feedback

At this point in my design process, I shared my iterations with the Program Coordinator who hired me to get feedback on my work. They were very fond of my last concept iteration—the Desktop UI—however, they advised me to avoid using logos owned by other organizations, such as those for Adobe Cloud and the IXDA (which I included as a representation of program tools and resources).

Further Iterations

Feedback Implementation

Based on the feedback received, I removed the unrelated and copyrighted logos and replaced them with the Sheridan College logo, which was more fitting.

Based on the feedback received, I removed the unrelated and copyrighted logos and replaced them with the Sheridan College logo, which was more fitting.

Based on the feedback received, I removed the unrelated and copyrighted logos and replaced them with the Sheridan College logo, which was more fitting.

Colour Combination Experimentation

With the integration of Sheridan College's logo, I considered incorporating Sheridan's colour palette. While this forms a clear association with the school due to its recognizable colours, it made the design feel too corporate. I wanted something more fun that better reflected the design's energy. Based on what I knew about past orientation t-shirt designs, I had never seen purple used, which is why it was the next colour I experimented with. Commonly associated with creativity and ambition, purple was a fitting colour to bring more life into the design and subtly reflect the values of both our program's students and the broader Sheridan community.

With the integration of Sheridan College's logo, I considered incorporating Sheridan's colour palette. While this forms a clear association with the school due to its recognizable colours, it made the design feel too corporate. I wanted something more fun that better reflected the design's energy. Based on what I knew about past orientation t-shirt designs, I had never seen purple used, which is why it was the next colour I experimented with. Commonly associated with creativity and ambition, purple was a fitting colour to bring more life into the design and subtly reflect the values of both our program's students and the broader Sheridan community.

With the integration of Sheridan College's logo, I considered incorporating Sheridan's colour palette. While this forms a clear association with the school due to its recognizable colours, it made the design feel too corporate. I wanted something more fun that better reflected the design's energy. Based on what I knew about past orientation t-shirt designs, I had never seen purple used, which is why it was the next colour I experimented with. Commonly associated with creativity and ambition, purple was a fitting colour to bring more life into the design and subtly reflect the values of both our program's students and the broader Sheridan community.

Typefaces and Weight

There was some brief exploration of typefaces and their weights to emphasize the "2024" text.

There was some brief exploration of typefaces and their weights to emphasize the "2024" text.

There was some brief exploration of typefaces and their weights to emphasize the "2024" text.

Final Design

Impact

Through thoughtful use of colour and symbolism, this t-shirt design effectively captures the essence and spirit of the Interaction Design program and its students.

The desktop window embodies our role as UX/UI designers, showcasing our passion to create and deliver interactive digital solutions. The bounding box is a familiar element found among the digital creative tools we use, such as Adobe Illustrator and Figma, establishing our relation to industry standard work. Sheridan’s identity is clearly represented through the school’s logo, while the clock reflects the time and dedication students invest in their creative work and iterative process. It also pays homage to Tea Time with Mark, a beloved weekly gathering for Interaction Design students and faculty. The purple-focused colour palette keeps these elements visually unified and reflects student creativity and ambition, while their layering adds a lively depth to the overall composition.

Reflection

I was beyond honoured to be chosen to participate in this year's new student orientation in such a meaningful way. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a designer is not only seeing your work make an impact on people but also seeing it being impactful in the way you intended it to be. As a fellow Interaction Design student and as an individual wanting to make a change in the world, it brought me so much joy to see how these shirts—and my design—sparked anticipation and a sense of belonging in new students starting their journey with us.