Tee-Shirts?

[Kathleen]

So this morning I found out Facebook allowed you to ask questions. You know what else lets you ask questions? Our forum!

Anyhow, what makes a great shirt? This is a question we ask ourselves when we design shirts. We spend a lot of time debating how to design our shirts to make sure they are appealing. We don't make a ton of money off shirts, but they enable us to do things like pay the rent on the moonbase, so they're important to us.

However, the people that we should be trying to please is you guys! So, vote, let us know what you like in a shirt, and why you buy specific shirts!

Thanks!

[Elomin Sha]

All of the above, and I'm not saying that to be funny or silly. They're always comfortable and I have fun with the Muffin shirt where bby I lift up my jumper to show the shirt when someone complains over somethign trivial.

[Metcarfre]

I'm kind of out of my 'clever text on a t-shirt' phase, so a nice design works better for me. Also I hate "geek culture" so geeky phrases will never fly with me anyways.

And as you guys well know with the Thromborax and Wii Play shirts, LRR in-jokes don't sell well.

[Ottoman]

I'd categorise both the Science and Muffin shirts as both 'witty' and 'in-joke'; that is, the LRR reference is subtle enough that anyone can appreciate the shirt anyway, but wearing it still feels like reppin' LRR.

The only preorder shirt I haven't liked enough to buy was the Trojan Horse, and depending on the specifics, a 'cool design' could be even better than the others. I'd really like to vote for all of the first three. . . shouldn't this have been a multi-option poll?

[Keab42]

Probably most something that's nerdy humor, but really I enjoy T-shirts that fall into all of those categories.

I'd say the science shirt intersects both LRR in-joke and Nerdy humor as well, and thus I purchased it.

Although if this is a poll for the sorts of shirts you should offer up in the future, anything designed by Tensen01

[Vigafre]

After I purchased the Science shirt, I came to realize that I don't like text-centric shirts. There can be text on there, but it shouldn't be the focus. Because of this, you would probably think I'd pick cool design, but I'd rather have an in-joke for the sake of having an in-joke, so long as it's not text-centric (like the Slacking shirt).

[King Kool]

I want a shirt covered with racial slurs.

[Elomin Sha]

King Kool opening the racist door again.

[Kathleen]

I realize all of our shirts sort of cross over categories (like 'is someone doing science in here' is both witty and a LRR joke) but it was more my attempt to try and pin down what's the most important thing you look for in a shirt.

I would say something like the muffin shirt is only the barest hint of a LRR joke - James's character in cH has said it maybe 5 times, where as something like the Creepy Doll shirt is just straight up LRR goodness.

[PlasmaCow]

Witty Catchphrase / LRR in-joke crossovers would probably be my preference. I like "cool" and "nerdy" t-shirt designs as well though (although LRR Starburst doesn't really do anything for me). I'll basically buy anything I think looks good or makes me laugh =)

[SilPho]

In-jokes are great as long as they don't look out of place when you don't understand the reference. The Wii-Play shirt fails in this regard in my opinion.

The Desert-Bus crest and Starburst shirts on the other hand work brilliantly because they look obscure enough to be regular shirts to anyone who glances over them, but if the person ask you about them you can explain just how awesome Desert Bus and\or LRR are. (Or if you don't like the person you can say "It just looks cool").

[Juliamon]

Typically I am quicker to jump on a shirt that's just a cool design rather than any specific joke. (I have a ton of Miss Monster shirts for this very reason...) But at the same time I probably wear my Runners shirt the most frequently, so I guess I like my tees to be sufficiently LRRy with minimal text.

I have significant regrets about passing on the Science shirt, though.

[AmzRigh]

My favorite of your shirts is probably the Creepy Doll shirt, not because it's a LRR in-joke, but because it's simple and innocuous enough that it doesn't have to mean anything -- it's just a kind of creepy face on a shirt. If someone wants to know more, they can ask, but they don't need to know anything about it to get anything out of it.

In other words, shirts that don't have to be explained to be enjoyed, but potentially enjoyed more by people who "get it."

Another good example: I'm currently wearing my Three Panel Soul "This Guy Is Totally Not A Spy" shirt -- nobody has to get that it's a TF2 reference to enjoy the joke. But people who are familiar with TF2? They know exactly what the shirt's talking about.

[Ollie, don'tcha know!]

I prefer a logo or image to a more text-based design. Even something with as much text as the latest 'No pants' T-shirt didn't really click.
I want a t-shirt that can be appreciated without having to spend a few seconds reading the text and then asking what it means and then getting alienated because one doesn't know that much abotu Canadian internet-based comedy groups. If it's just the logo or funny image, people will think it's a cool logo or image and not ask too much about it.

Edit:
Also, the creepy doll shirt is pretty much perfect. It's super mega awesome for anyone who does get it, and a cool t-shirt design for anyone who doesn't

[Niko]

Voted for "cool design", but ideally would have voted for "LRR in-joke" too.
Cool designs of LRR jokes, e.g. the Desert Bus Crest shirt was awesome, and had a lot of stuff specific to DBFH.

[GreigKM]

I want a shirt covered with racial slurs.

Or, a LRR joke, both are nice.

[Vanguard]

Personally I'd prefer a shirt with an interesting looking design on it, like the Starburst shirt, both Desert Bus shirts, the basic logo shirt and so on. Having a shirt based around an in-joke is fine, don't get me wrong, but that joke can't carry it if that makes any sense. There has to be a solid design to back the joke up for it to work.

My $.02.

[Drinnik]

I said Nerdy humour. I do like the LRR specific t-shirts, though, but I like geek/nerdy humour more.

[Sarah]

Like a few people have said, an in-joke that still looks good if you don't get the reference is great, like the Creepy Doll shirt. Several of my friends like that one (but then they're strange people), and my mom wishes she was brave enough to wear it.

I really go more by how much I like the joke and the appearance of the shirt, which is of course no real help for you. But in general I think all 4 of those options appeal to me.

[JackSlack]

It depends! I don't think there's much rhyme or reason. Generally, I guess it's a clever witty thing, but then, I liked the Creepy Doll, didn't much care for Never Forget or No Rules No Pants, and desperately want a West Westerchesterbmingham shirt.

I don't think there's a unifying thread. Each design runs on its own merits. I answered witty, but in hindsight, I wish I'd answered "Cool design". In the end, that's the thing that matters most.

[tak197]

King Kool opening the racist door again.

I didn't know King Kool also worked with Frankie Boyle and Ching Chong Chinaman...

[Tapir12]

I think a nice design and something clever is the most important for me. In-jokes don't work when nobody else gets the joke. I agree with the ideas that too much text is a bad thing. It should be something to get right away. Simple is better. If it connects back to something LRR it's nicer, but not such an in-joke that you have to explain your shirt to everyone.

[House MD]

I would any, if I liek a shirt I buy the damn thing.

I have like all the shirts so far. But some slightly less than other. But it doesn't stop me buying them.

[Zipa]

All of the options are good for different reasons, the in jokes are especially good though because most people don't have a clue what the shirt you are wearing is about.

[goat]

I'm kind of out of my 'clever text on a t-shirt' phase, so a nice design works better for me. Also I hate "geek culture" so geeky phrases will never fly with me anyways.

And as you guys well know with the Thromborax and Wii Play shirts, LRR in-jokes don't sell well.

I prefer a logo or image to a more text-based design. Even something with as much text as the latest 'No pants' T-shirt didn't really click.
I want a t-shirt that can be appreciated without having to spend a few seconds reading the text and then asking what it means and then getting alienated because one doesn't know that much abotu Canadian internet-based comedy groups. If it's just the logo or funny image, people will think it's a cool logo or image and not ask too much about it.

Edit:
Also, the creepy doll shirt is pretty much perfect. It's super mega awesome for anyone who does get it, and a cool t-shirt design for anyone who doesn't

+1 x2