Over the last 6 years I have helped organize over 10 different conferences (all the LASCON conferences, all the DevOpsDays Austin conferences, AppSec USA 2012, and even a couple for my church) and for most of the events I have been in charge of swag. T-shirts, bags, shot glasses, lanyards, usb keys… You name it, I have swagged it.
From all these conferences I have learned a few things, and specifically I have learned a bit about making t-shirts. T-shirts are a funny thing. Everyone has opinions, however as an organizer you have to learn that most of those opinions are wrong. I have had lots of bad ideas recommended to me by well-meaning organizers and friends: Print the logo big! Put all the sponsors logos on the back (also known as the “the NASCAR special”). Have a big design on the back which I like to call “the restaurant shirt.” Then there is the design someone on the team knocked out with MS Paint.
Everyone has good intentions, but as the one in charge of making the shirt you have to lead them through the process. Show the team what good actually means. In this presentation I highlight the last several years of DevOpsDays Austin t-shirts and walk you through the process of how to make t-shirts people want to wear after the event is over.
Links from the presentation:
If you have any other tips, add to the comments and/or tweet with #shirtops.
the agile admin 