How to Create Your First Custom T-Shirt in Under 10 Minutes
A practical walkthrough — from blank canvas to checkout — for anyone who has never used a design tool before. If you can type text and drag an image, you can do this.
One of the most common things we hear from new users is: 'I am not a designer.' We hear you. Design Yangu was built for exactly that person. This is a practical guide for your very first custom t-shirt, written as if you have never used a design tool before.
Step 1: Choose your t-shirt. Go to the product catalogue and pick a t-shirt. We carry unisex crew necks in black, white, grey, navy blue, and red — available in S through 3XL. Once you pick a colour, click 'Customise This Product' to open the editor.
Step 2: Add your text. Click the 'T' (Text) icon in the toolbar on the left. A text box appears on the canvas. Type whatever you want — your name, a slogan, a Swahili proverb, anything. Then use the toolbar at the top to pick a font. Experiment: try a bold serif for something serious, a handwritten style for something personal. Change the colour by clicking the colour swatch. Move the text by clicking and dragging it.
Step 3: Upload a logo or image (optional). If you have a logo or image you want to use, click the Upload button and select it from your phone gallery or computer. PNG files with a transparent background look the best — they sit directly on the fabric without a white rectangular box. Resize by dragging the corners. Rotate using the rotation handle at the top.
Step 4: Combine elements. Most great custom tee designs are simple. A logo on the chest. A short slogan below it. Or just bold text on its own. Resist the urge to fill every inch of the shirt. Clean designs print better and look better.
Step 5: Check the preview. Use the product preview to see exactly how your design will sit on the shirt. Is it centred? Is the text large enough to be readable? Is everything within the print area (the white dotted boundary on the canvas)?
Step 6: Choose your size and order. Click 'Add to Cart'. Select your size using our size guide (measure your chest — the guide is in centimetres and inches). Add your delivery address and pay with M-Pesa. Done. Your shirt will be printed and at your door in 3–5 business days if you are in Nairobi.
The whole process takes less than 10 minutes for a simple design. Have fun with it. Your first design will probably not be perfect — but it will be yours.