Do your research
There are two main ways of doing research on this case scenario:
Check out your competition
What is your competition selling? Knowing this will give you a strong sense of what people that listen to your kind of music want.
- Browse their website
- Stalk their social media
- Go to their live performances
- Call their representative and enquire information on manufacturers
Ask your followers
Your followers are the ones who are willing to spend money on you and that’s why you should know what they want. They are an invaluable source of information.
- Conduct a survey
- Ask through social media
- Upload a video to YouTube asking for ideas
- Ask face to face before or after a live presentation
Do some branding
In order to expand the reach of your band, you’ll need to do some branding.
- Write down the Band’s core values
- Come up with a color palette the band wants to be associated with
- Gather symbols and graphics that the group feels identified with (a Pinterest board might help)
Brainstorm
Once you’ve gathered all of the pertinent information, it is time to brainstorm. Gather your band members and whoever else might prove valuable and start gathering ideas. The first part of the design process is the most fun because it does not require any type of formality and at this point every idea is valid which leads to some funny and whacky possibilities. Write down all of the suggestions and leave them somewhere safe. Read the ideas all over again and discard those that don’t fit your band’s message.
Hire a designer
Professional and experienced designers can be pricey, but you have to look at it as an investment. Think of it this way, if you hire a really good designer to do your logo, you’ll be paying him once for a graphic you’ll be using over and over again (years, maybe). A good designer will ensure that the logo is solid enough that it won’t need to be redesigned in a long time.
Design
Whether you’ve hired a designer or not, at some point you have to sit down and start sketching. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
- Make sure they know it’s your band and not someone else’s
- Be coherent with the merchandise you create
- Double-check designs before going into production
This particular step is crucial when designing merchandise. After you’ve come up with your ideas show them to trusted acquaintances like family and friends. Choose only people who will give you an honest opinion.
