IN-HOUSE DESIGN & CREATIVE
Custom merchandise design & artwork.
Bring a logo, a sketch or an idea. We’ll take it from there.
What are you starting with?
See what your brand could become.
A better brief. A better starting point.
What to bring
- Logo or inspiration
- Who it’s for
- Quantity & budget
- Your deadline
What we’ll plan
- Creative direction
- Products & placements
- Proofs for approval
- Production next steps
Four steps to ready-to-wear.
- 01
Brief
Share your goals
- 02
Design
Review your concepts
- 03
Approve
Sign off on the proof
- 04
Produce
We bring it to life
Scope, revisions, fees and artwork rights agreed upfront.
Quote factors →A few helpful answers.
How much does merchandise design cost?
Design pricing depends on the creative brief, artwork complexity, number of products and concepts, and revision scope. Ask us to identify basic artwork preparation and any original design fees in your written quote before work begins.
Will we see a mockup before production?
Yes. You review a digital proof showing the proposed artwork, size, placement and product details before production. A digital mockup is a visual guide; ask about physical samples or color matching when those details are important to your project.
Can you design our company merchandise if we only have an idea?
Yes. LS Custom’s in-house design team can develop original merchandise graphics from a brief, references or a rough idea. Share your audience, goal, approximate quantity, budget and deadline. You do not need finished artwork to start.
View all design questions
Can you work with our existing logo and brand guidelines?
Yes. Send your logo, brand guide and any approved fonts or colors. We plan artwork, garment colors and placements around those standards, and flag details that may need adapting for print or embroidery before you approve them.
What is the difference between logo placement and original design?
Logo placement applies an existing brand asset to a product. Original design develops new artwork, lettering or a coordinated visual direction for your merchandise. Tell us which you need so your quote covers the right creative work.
How many design revisions are included?
The number of concepts and revision rounds is defined for your project. Nominate one approver and consolidate feedback from your team. If the brief or deliverables change, we review any additional cost and timing with you.
Can your designers support our marketing team or agency?
Yes. We can work from your team’s campaign artwork or develop merchandise-specific concepts around its brief. Your team retains the approval role while we connect the creative work with product choices and decoration requirements.
Can you create a full collection and help with reorders?
Yes. Plan related designs across apparel, hats, gifts and other merchandise, then connect approved selections to a company-store or reorder program. Products, availability, artwork versions and distribution responsibilities are confirmed for the program.
Who owns the artwork, and do we receive editable files?
Artwork ownership, usage rights and delivery of editable source files should be stated in your project agreement. Tell us at the start if you need files for other vendors or future campaigns. Existing logos and licensed assets retain their applicable rights.
Do you offer design-only work or need a merchandise order?
Tell us if you need artwork only, design with production, or an ongoing collection. We will confirm whether the requested scope fits our service and specify deliverables, fees and rights before you commit.
How quickly can you design and produce our order?
Timing depends on the creative scope, feedback, stock and production method. Share your in-hands date upfront. Design approval and production are separate steps, and we confirm a feasible schedule with your quote.
Can we work with you outside Houston?
Yes. Our local teams support Katy, Cypress and West Houston, and merchandise projects can be coordinated remotely for customers nationwide. Share your shipping destinations and distribution needs with the brief.
Let’s make something worth wearing.
Start My Project →Katy · Cypress · West Houston | Serving teams nationwide
Creative & proof FAQ
Artwork, approvals, brand rights & merchandise design
Good production starts with controlled artwork and clear approval ownership. These answers separate creative development, proofing, physical samples and rights to use third-party material.
Can LS Custom turn a campaign idea into a coordinated merchandise collection?
Yes. Start with the audience, campaign objective, budget, products or categories, brand rules and launch date. A coordinated collection can carry one concept across apparel and merchandise while adapting artwork to each item's production constraints.
What logo file formats should our design team provide?
Vector artwork such as AI, EPS, PDF or SVG is usually the best starting point for logos. High-resolution raster files may work for some decoration methods. Send the original artwork when available rather than a screenshot or compressed web image.
Can you work with our existing brand guidelines and approved color values?
Yes. Provide the current brand guide, approved logo files, color references and any placement or co-branding rules. The physical product and decoration method can affect how a digital color is reproduced, so confirm the production approach during proofing.
Will we receive a digital proof before any merchandise is produced?
A production project should identify the artwork and decoration details that require approval before production. Review the proof carefully for product, color, logo version, spelling, placement and dimensions; a digital proof is not the same as a physical sample.
What is the difference between a digital mockup and a physical production sample?
A digital mockup shows the planned appearance and placement on screen. A physical sample lets you inspect the actual product, scale, material and decoration result. Samples add time and may add cost, so decide whether one is required before setting the final schedule.
Who should approve logo placement, garment color, and artwork dimensions?
Assign one authorized approver or a clearly defined approval group before proofing. Internal stakeholders can review, but LS Custom should receive one consolidated approval so conflicting comments do not create production ambiguity.
How many design revisions are included in our quote?
Revision scope depends on the project and should be stated in the quote or design agreement. Distinguish minor proof corrections from a new creative direction, new product adaptation or additional concept development.
Can you adapt one design for shirts, hats, drinkware, and packaging?
Yes, when the design can be adjusted for the different printable or embroiderable areas. A hat, bottle and T-shirt rarely use identical dimensions, so each application should be reviewed rather than simply scaling one file automatically.
Why can a logo look different on fabric than it does on a screen?
Screens emit light, while fabric, thread and ink reflect light and have texture. Garment color, material, print method and thread or ink selection can all affect the physical result. Use product samples or production references when exact appearance is critical.
How do we specify a print size instead of saying the logo should look large?
Approve measurable dimensions—such as width or height—and identify the garment or product location. Also confirm whether the same dimension should apply across youth, adult and extended sizes or whether multiple artwork sizes are needed.
Can we approve different artwork for different departments under one brand?
Yes. Use a controlled artwork matrix showing which logo, department identifier, color and placement is approved for each group. Keep one current source of truth so outdated variants are not reused.
Can LS Custom create original artwork rather than just place our logo?
LS Custom can support merchandise design and creative work. Define the deliverables, number of concepts, revision scope, intended products and whether source-file delivery or additional usage rights are required before the design work begins.
Who owns original merchandise artwork after we pay for the design work?
Ownership and usage rights should be defined in the applicable design or project agreement rather than assumed. Ask specifically about final production files, editable source files, fonts, licensed assets and rights to reuse the design with other vendors.
What permission is needed to print a partner's or sponsor's logo?
The buyer should have authorization to reproduce every third-party mark supplied for the project and should follow the owner's brand rules. Sponsorship or a business relationship does not automatically grant unlimited trademark usage.
Can you reproduce an existing design when we do not own its artwork files?
A visual reference can help explain the desired direction, but reproducing another party's protected artwork may require permission. If you own the design but lack production files, provide evidence or source material so a lawful recreation path can be evaluated.
How should we handle copyrighted characters or entertainment references in creator merch?
Do not assume a parody, fan reference or internet meme is automatically cleared for commercial merchandise. Obtain appropriate rights or legal guidance for protected characters, logos, images and other third-party creative elements before production.
Can AI-generated artwork be reviewed for print quality and brand-rights concerns?
Yes for production suitability: resolution, line weight, colors, dimensions and decoration method can be reviewed. Rights require separate diligence because AI generation does not itself prove ownership, originality or permission to use referenced brands, characters or artists.
How are approved logo versions stored to prevent outdated artwork from being reused?
Use clearly named approved files, version dates and an artwork matrix for departments or applications. For recurring programs, define which files are active and require approval before replacing the standard.
What happens when we discover an artwork error after signing the proof?
Contact LS Custom immediately. If production has not started, a correction may still be possible and could affect cost or schedule. If goods were produced to the approved proof, correcting the buyer-approved artwork may require a new production order.
Can you prepare a presentation-ready concept pack for our leadership team?
Yes, when included in the creative scope. A useful approval pack can show product choices, colors, artwork placement, estimated quantities, budget assumptions and open decisions so leadership can approve the direction before production details are finalized.