Rush 2024
Client | MBS: Full-time employer, subsidiary of Barnes & Noble Education
Design Problem | Create the 2024 Rush T-Shirt. Every year in the fall when higher education is in full swing, MBS Direct employees rush to serve students who need their textbooks. Every year survivors of the rush season get to flaunt a new, custom design. Make it something fun, work-appropriate, and pleasing to various walks of life.
My Role | Survey desired ideas, illustrate the t-shirt design, and handle production with screen printing vendor.
Inspiration
MBS Direct employees were given three choices for the 2024 Rush t-shirt design, and they chose “MBS RUSH: It’s a Scream,” which was suggested by MBS Marketing copywriter Liz Schulte. The idea was to commemorate the periodical cicadas that invaded the Midwest this summer.
I opted for something art-nouveau inspired, hoping the graceful lines would help me to create a beautiful design work with the form of a less-than-popular insect.
Cover of first edition of Ellen and Mr. Man by Gouverneur Morris, Artist Unknown
Alphonse Mucha, Daydream (Rêverie)
Specimen photo from Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
Creative Process
Shoutout to my coworkers and upper management who saw my concept drawing (below) and decided, “Yes, that will do. PO approved for that.” After a little font work in Adobe Illustrator, I was off to my happy little iPad for some much-needed Procreate time. And then it was back to Illustrator to vectorize.
Enjoy the Procreate screen recording to the …peaceful… sound of cicadas (◔◡◔)
Color Changes
Several color choices were offered, but in the end we were limited to the colors our screenprinting vendor could offer. The green turned into more of a sage, which still worked great. Peep the final colors below.
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![photo of coworker Devin wearing cicada t-shirt]()
Behold, it is Devin wearing his shirt at the Time Travel Fest!
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![screenshot of color preview proof from printer]()
You can't always get what you want. But you get what you need.
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![cicada t-shirt design with final colors]()
From the final proof
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![photo of designer wearing her t-shirt with the design on it as she creates this webpage]()
Look this is so meta. I am literally wearing my shirt as I make this website. It's 2:30 in the morning. Send help. 🌮
Final Thoughts
I have done a few of these Rush T-Shirts over the years at MBS. It’s always so exciting to see people around work or even around town wearing them. This time I was very proud to see them being worn more often than in previous years. My god, how did I make a cicada pretty? I’ll let you know when I figure it out.
“It’s my favorite rush shirt so far 😊”
“I just got my t-shirt - thank you, it’s beautiful! You did a great job. 😁”