Design Like a Kid Again

Why your best custom shirt might come from your inner child.

Remember how fearless you were with a box of crayons? You didn’t worry about color theory, font pairings, or whether the drawing “made sense.” You just made stuff. Wild, weird, wonderful stuff. Somewhere along the way, we learned to second-guess our creativity. But when it comes to custom apparel, we think it’s time to bring back the kid brain.

Here’s why (and how) to design like a kid again.

1. Kids Don’t Overthink

Adults often get stuck trying to make the “perfect” design. Kids? They just pick what feels right in the moment. That gut instinct leads to fresh, original results. When you’re designing a shirt, trust your first idea. If it makes you smile or laugh, go with it.

2. Forget the Rules

Kids don’t care if fonts clash or if yellow letters are hard to read. While some guidelines help, don’t let “design rules” stop you from expressing yourself. Want hot pink Comic Sans across the chest? Go for it. Your shirt, your rules.

3. Embrace Imperfection

Kids’ drawings are wonky, lopsided, and completely charming. A custom tee doesn’t need to be flawless, it needs to be you. Some of our favorite prints started as scribbles, stick figures, or accidental typos.

4. Make It Personal, Not Polished

Kids draw what they love, their dog, their favorite snack, a weird dream they had last night. That honesty is powerful. Think about what you love: a catchphrase you say too much, your favorite inside joke, a memory that makes you laugh. That’s what belongs on your shirt.

5. Let It Be Fun

Designing something custom should never feel like homework. Blast some music, doodle in a notebook, or start typing whatever phrase comes to mind. You don’t need a degree in graphic design. You just need to play a little.

Your Inner Child Called, They’ve Got Shirt Ideas

At The Rocket Apparel, we’re all about helping you bring those wild ideas to life, whether they come from your adult brain or your 8-year-old self. Send us your sketch, your stick figure, your ridiculous joke, and we’ll make it real.

Because the best designs aren’t always the most polished.
They’re the most honest. The most you.
The most fun you’ve had in a while.