In a Nutshell
“Design Great Stuff” delivers Draplin’s insider merch‑making journey—packed with stories, practical steps, and Illustrator workflow—all in under two hours.
Who is this Course For?
- Graphic designers seeking to expand into physical products
- Freelancers or studio owners wanting merch services
- Creative entrepreneurs launching a maker business
What you will Learn
- Idea-to-implementation merch workflow
- Vendor research & selection tips
- Designing patches, pins, hats
- File‑prep for flawless vendor handoff
- Revising sample proofs effectively
About the Course
Aaron Draplin’s 1 h 42 m Skillshare course packs in his full merch lifecycle: from initial inspiration and concept sketching to vendor scouting and final sample review. Each lesson dives in: vendor insights (~8 min), patch design (~7 min), pin creation (~11 min), and thorough file‑prep (~15 min). He peppers the technical content with entertaining “Tales of Merch” anecdotes—like his Space Shuttle pin or a “crusty” yardstick gone wrong—bringing candid lessons drawn from real project wins and failures.
The class is hands‑on. Draplin encourages sharing your merch project and invites peer feedback—great for accountability. He focuses on practical steps: how to translate one design into multiple formats, preparing clean Illustrator files for vendor handoff, and interpreting samples effectively. Illustrator familiarity is recommended but not strictly required.
The Instructor
Aaron Draplin, Founder of Draplin Design Co., well-known for bold Americana-inspired design work and high-quality merchandise. With over 15 years of merch-making experience, Draplin brings practical know-how and storytelling flair to the screen.
Conclusion
“Design Great Stuff” is a practical and entertaining course that demystifies the merch-making process. Draplin’s approach is authentic, clear, and hands-on, making it easy to follow even for those new to merchandise production. While advanced designers may already know the basics, Draplin’s vendor insights and Illustrator workflows offer valuable takeaways. Highly recommended for designers, small business owners, and creatives ready to turn their art into sellable products.
Design & Make Merch with Draplin
