Because "Rush Fall 2009" is so cliche.

July 27, 2009 3:13 PM

Help me design a t-shirt

One of the brothers came up with a great shirt, which involved a parody of a well-recognized ad campaign and a nice catchphrase. The problem is, the ad campaign is for a beer company. The stigma of fraternities as centers of alcohol use and abuse -- no matter how well-earned -- is one we're trying to move away from, and I think that this shirt would hamper our efforts in that regard.

We're looking for something that has similar qualities -- it plays off of a recognizable ad campaign and has an element (a catchphrase) that sticks with you -- but obviously one that has nothing to do with alcohol. By no means do I want you to completely design the shirt for us, but rather just provide a jumping-off point that we can work from.

We are a chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity. Possible design elements include knights or snakes.

Note: I don't care what you think about fraternities. If you derail the discussion with your opinion without offering a suggestion, I will mark your comment for removal. Sorry, but I don't want to hear about it.

posted by dondiego87 to clothing, beauty, & fashion (12 comments total)

Note: I don't care what you think about fraternities. If you derail the discussion with your opinion without offering a suggestion, I will mark your comment for removal. Sorry, but I don't want to hear about it.

That's a great way to get folks to help you. Let them know that you will flag their comments, and flag them with authority!

You haven't really given us any information about the shirt design. Perhaps if you tell us what the original idea is, we can come up with a comparable one.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 3:48 PM on July 27 [1 favorite]

[all comments removed - make an effort please?]
posted by jessamyn at 3:49 PM on July 27

Double your pleasure, double your fun - the doublemint ad is still one that people know even though it hasn't run for years, and I can see where the idea of having fraternity brothers could be thought of as "doubling" one's famaily, safety new, connection, well-being... you name it.
posted by Billegible at 3:57 PM on July 27

I was looking for any good internet memes, but falling short. The wikipedia list of internet phenomena is also interesting, but nothing grabbed me.

Political slogans might be interesting, and then there's the much broader category: advertising slogans.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:06 PM on July 27

Also, what is the purpose of the t-shirt? To support the fraternity? Just for fun? Do you want it funny? Clever? Thought provoking? Modern? Retro? Inspiring? Goofy? Challenging?

I think more specifics might be helpful. Starting off by what you want it to 'say' would be great.
posted by Vaike at 4:07 PM on July 27

James Dean pledged Sigma Nu at UCLA. . . maybe there's something there you could work with. The 550 Porsche, Rebel Without a Cause. . .
posted by No New Diamonds Please at 4:13 PM on July 27

Vaike, I think it's their Rush Fall 2009 shirt, nothing fancier than that. Since many frats and sororities make new ones each quarter (or at least 3 times a year), it just needs to be memorable to some degree.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:47 PM on July 27

I will second everyone above: we need to know why the shirt (an event? just an annual shirt? ID? for a party?) in order to give suggestions. In the meantime, you should take a look at other cool designs (without ripping them off, of course) like at threadless or even someplace like gigposters; they might inspire you.
posted by cachondeo45 at 5:27 PM on July 27

1) In little tiny letters, as small a font as possible, the words "to take care of this shirt, make sure it is," and on the next line down in huge letters the words "WELL HUNG," and on the next line, again in tiny letters, "on a hangar of plastic or wire."

2) Buy those 3/4 sleeve baseball shirts, do "SIGMA NU" in cursive letters with a number on the front, a fake corporate sponsorship on the back - something like the Chico's Bail Bonds from "Bad News Bears." Hell, go get a real corporate sponsorship from a local strip club or adult novelty store.

3) Dunno exactly where you go to school, but if it's in Florida (saw your Florida-->Argentina question), something like "Central Florida Rush Week - The Hardest Thing Going in America's Wang," with an outline of the state as a graphic.

4) In a tribute to "Animal House," just the words "Damn glad to meet you" (or "Did we give up after the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?")
posted by GamblingBlues at 5:50 PM on July 27

Sorry for not specifying this before. As some have suggested, this is just a rush shirt -- something to stick in the mind of potential new members. The original shirt had "The difference is rushability" on the back, and the front had the Greek letters Sigma Nu in a style evocative of the Bud Light logo. It was recognizable and memorable.

What we're looking for is something that evokes or mentions our values (love, truth, honor), and/or can be parlayed into a sense of casual superiority over other fraternities. I've been trying to think of something cased on Coca Cola's "look," but I can't think of any ad copy.

Thanks again for your help.
posted by dondiego87 at 6:14 PM on July 27

The GI Joe movie coming out is subtitled "Rise of the Cobra".
Put Sigma Nu in the GI Joe font and change it to "Rush of the Cobra". Incorporate some art similar to the style of the cartoon (google image search: GI Joe cartoon to see what I mean). Then you get pop-culture recognition + Snakes.
posted by FreezBoy at 6:41 AM on July 28

You should get a bunch of shirts for Rush the band, and then screen print (or write with fabric markers) your frat logo underneath their logo.
posted by ignignokt at 8:59 AM on July 29