T-Shirt Designer Needed — 21 Print-Ready Holiday POD Designs

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING NO AI-GENERATED DESIGNS - ALL WORK MUST BE 100% HUMAN-CREATED. AI-generated or AI-assisted designs will be immediately rejected and the contract terminated without payment. By applying you confirm all designs will be entirely your own original human work. Full brand brief, style guide, specific design directions and quotes for text-based designs will only be shared after NDA signing with the selected candidate. Note: We are hiring up to 3 designers for this project. Each designer works on the same brief independently. All 3 positions pay equally - $210 USD per designer. FIXED BUDGET — NON-NEGOTIABLE. Anyone quoting above $210 USD will be automatically disqualified regardless of experience or portfolio quality. Do not apply if you cannot work within this budget. PROJECT SCOPE --------------------------------------- 21 total designs across 3 major US holiday events: - 7 x Thanksgiving designs (Nov 26, 2026) - 7 x Christmas designs (Dec 25, 2026) - 7 x New Year designs (Dec 31, 2026) Each event includes: - 2 x Quote/typography designs Text will be provided by us - your job is the typography layout, style and visual execution only - 5 x Illustrated/graphic designs You create the concept and artwork based on the event theme and brand brief provided after NDA Mix of fun/humorous and premium/elegant styles required. No clipart, stock illustrations, or template-based work. FILE DELIVERABLES — MANDATORY --------------------------------------- Every design must be delivered in ALL THREE formats: 1. PNG - Transparent background - 300 DPI minimum - 4500 x 5400 pixels minimum - sRGB colour mode - Print-ready, no bleed or crop marks 2. SVG - Fully scalable vector file - All text converted to outlines - Clean paths, no unnecessary nodes 3. AI (Adobe Illustrator) OR Canva Source File - Fully editable source file - All layers named and organised - Fonts embedded or converted to outlines - Text, colours and graphics must remain editable - Client must be able to swap quote text independently PNG + SVG are mandatory regardless of software used. If you cannot deliver all three formats please do not apply. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS --------------------------------------- - 300 DPI minimum resolution - Transparent background on all files - sRGB colour mode for PNG (DTG/POD printing) - 4500 x 5400 pixels minimum canvas size - Maximum print area 12 x 16 inches - Must work on both light and dark coloured garments - All designs must be print-ready with no additional preparation needed REVISION POLICY --------------------------------------- - 2 rounds of revisions per design included - A design is only approved when I am fully satisfied - Milestone payment released only after all designs in that batch are fully approved - If a design cannot be improved after 2 revision rounds it will be replaced with a new concept at no extra cost - Written feedback provided within 48 hours of delivery - Designer must action revisions within 48 hours of feedback TEST DESIGN - MANDATORY BEFORE HIRE --------------------------------------- Before the full project begins: - Top 3 shortlisted candidates will each receive ONE test brief - Payment: $10-15 USD per test - paid work, not a free sample - Deliverable: 1 complete design in all required formats - Timeline: 48 hours - The 3 strongest test designs win the full project DELIVERY MILESTONES AND PAYMENT --------------------------------------- Milestone 1: 3 Thanksgiving designs — Day 5 — $30 - 1 quote/typography layout (text provided) - 2 illustrated/graphic designs Milestone 2: 4 Thanksgiving designs — Day 10 — $40 - 1 quote/typography layout (text provided) - 3 illustrated/graphic designs Milestone 3: 3 Christmas designs — Day 17 — $30 - 1 quote/typography layout (text provided) - 2 illustrated/graphic designs Milestone 4: 4 Christmas designs — Day 24 — $40 - 1 quote/typography layout (text provided) - 3 illustrated/graphic designs Milestone 5: 3 New Year designs — Day 31 — $30 - 1 quote/typography layout (text provided) - 2 illustrated/graphic designs Milestone 6: 4 New Year designs — Day 38 — $40 - 1 quote/typography layout (text provided) - 3 illustrated/graphic designs Total per designer: 21 designs — 38 days — $210 USD Total across 3 designers: 63 designs — $630 USD Payment released per milestone only after full approval. Upwork escrow protects both parties. IDEAL CANDIDATE --------------------------------------- YES: - Proven experience designing for Etsy or POD platforms - Strong holiday and seasonal design portfolio - Excellent typography and layout skills - Can produce premium AND fun/humorous styles equally well - Understands print-ready file requirements - Can deliver PNG, SVG and AI or Canva source files - Editable source files with swappable text elements - Reliable with tight deadlines - Has signed NDAs for previous client work - Communicates clearly in English - Available to start immediately NO: - No AI-generated or AI-assisted work - No template flipping or stock asset reuse - No outsourcing to third parties without approval Applications missing any screening questions will not be considered. ONGOING OPPORTUNITY --------------------------------------- This is the first project of a potential long-term relationship. If quality and reliability are strong we have regular ongoing design work covering all major calendar events throughout the year. The best performing designer from this project will be offered priority on all future work and a potential retainer arrangement for consistent monthly work.