Retro t-shirt design Gold Coast

The Brief

Client: Funky Stylie – retro t-shirt brand

Scope: T-shirt graphic design, catalogue, art direction, project management, photography production

Photography: Simon Williams swilly.online

The challenge: Retro is everywhere now (wasn’t when FS was launched) and most of it is lazy: same faded fonts, same sunsets, same tired nostalgia. Funky Stylie needed designs with some personality. They had to be fun without being try-hard and cheeky without being crass, and worn by people who want their shirt to say something.

The Work

Graphic Design

Retro done properly, surf, skate and pop culture inspired. The rule was simple: fun first, with a touch of irreverence. Every design had to make someone grin, or at least look twice. Fitzwellen Cider, Roller Girl and Charile don’t surf to name a few.

Art Direction & Photography

Great shirts die in bad photos. Art directed the shoot to match the brand, so the styling, location and attitude all pull in the same direction as the graphics. Simon Williams shot it. We’ve worked with Simon before, and he knows how to make product look like it has a life outside the studio.

Project Management

From first sketch to final file, we ran the whole process: design, print production, catalogues and the photography shoot. One point of contact meant nothing got lost between the designer, the printer and the photographer.

The Results

A range that looks as good on a person as it does on the hanger. Was sold in independent retailers.