Have we become famous?
Before we get into the whole story, we want to let you know that there are some valuable tips about print design in this article, and we’ll eventually get to them.
But first…
Let’s rewind.
One morning, while the birds were chirping and the bees were humming – or was it our computers? – Mihailo (the creator and designer behind Mihano Momosa – the world-famous fashion brand) came into our studio and asked us to do a fashion print design for his new collection.
Now, if you know this guy, it won’t come as a surprise that his success is directly linked to his determination to bring exactly what he imagined to life. He showed us a couple of examples and described his thought process.
Then it was our turn.
We wiped off the initial sweat from our brows (that inevitably shows up when you talk to someone even remotely famous) and started brainstorming. We came up with a magic mixture of Mihailo’s ideas and our own (we’ll talk about that in detail later).
So to answer the question – Have we become famous?
Well, not precisely, but…
Okay, we might not be famous YET, but we know a thing or two about fashion print design, and we’re ready to share it!
*If you’re impatient and want to see the lovely pictures already, skip the next part, and we’ll meet you at the end of the article! (Yes, we forgive you)
So, where were we? Ah, yes.
Here are six rules to keep in mind when designing textile print or creating a fashion print design:
*no. 6 is our favorite!
1. MEANING AND TARGET CUSTOMERS: Grandpa, that’s my Metallica t-shirt!
Before deciding on the types of fashion prints, you want to go for, ask yourself what is the meaning behind the design. What are you trying to accomplish? Is your fashion print design going to attract attention or make a statement? Will the garment appeal to teenagers and youth with a wild and rebellious spirit, or will it target a more mature type of fashion lover with its subtle floral print design? Of course, you can bend the usual stereotypes and go big and bold and graphic for 70+. No judgment here.
2. FABRIC: Hang in there. It’s important!
We probably don’t need to tell you this – but to be sure: A flowy, silky fabric isn’t going to hang the same way as sturdy cotton or linen. Keep this in mind while planning your fashion print design: smaller patterns and prints look better on lighter, drapey fabrics, while more significant designs are more likely to look good on thicker materials. This is an important step, so don’t skip it.
3. COLORS: Did Monet paint in black and white?
What is it you are trying to say? Fashion is, after all, an expression of personality, mood, or lifestyle. It can be playful with vibrant, modern, vintage, simple, and elegant hues. We won’t go into color theory, but there are a few tips when choosing a color palette. Complementary colors are opposite on the color wheel, e.g., blue and orange or red and green. They tend to compliment each other as the name suggests and draw the eye in when paired. Analogous colors are any three colors next to each other on the color wheel. You can combine colors in multiple ways as long as they are harmonious when next to each other. OR you can go wild with it and make your fashion print design something everyone will remember for its uniqueness.
4. WHITESPACE: Leave space for !
Do the components of your design look better when they are densely packed together or do they give off the vibe you want when separated with a bit more whitespace? It’s your call; trust your gut. If it’s off, try to play with the distance between the elements in your fashion print design until the whole thing feels right and you have a balanced design.
5. SCALE: Size matters, okay?
Are the components you’re going for small in scale or large? Or maybe you have one but aren’t sure how much space it should take up? Choose more prominent elements if you’re going for loud and out there. For a more subtle look, go for a smaller pattern or maybe set the details apart. Ultimately, it all comes down to the story and feeling you’re trying to convey.
Go back to the first point and decide who you’re designing for and what the point is behind it. There’s a big difference between drama and subtlety, but sometimes all it takes is a change in size.
6. RULEBREAKING: The ultimate rule.
You didn’t think we’d let you go off without the mother of all rules, did you? If you need to write it on a post-it note and stick it to your computer screen or frame it and put it up on your wall, or spare all the tree cutting and make it last forever with ink on your arm, the point is: Please, we beg of you, don’t design anything blindly following the rules. Break them with intention – especially if it’s legal and you can get away with it! You’ll be left with a design that’s truly your own.
Finally, the cherry on top of this fashion print design cake: What we did for Mihano Momosa
If you’ve googled Mihano Momosa, you know Mihailo never jokes around with his designs. We’d describe his previous collections as a mixture of sophistication and eclecticism, but the 2022 collection we’ve worked on is a bit different.
