Work Uniforms: 80 Awesome Examples on Designing Yours. www.printsome.com
Do you want to implement a uniform at your workplace? Or do you simply just want to revamp the one you already have? Then aren t you lucky you ve got this guide on your hands? page 3
Index: Introduction...00 What is workwear? And what benefits does it have?...06 How do I design my own workwear?...08 Part 1: Research...10 Part 2: Design...14 Part 3: Production...17 Examples...20 Delivery or at-home Services...21 Health Industry...23 Food Industry...25 Face-to-Face Customer Service...32 Manual Labour / Construction Company...38 Final Thoughts...41 page 4
INTRODUCTION Are you a business owner? We re Printsome, an online printing agency determined to make the business of garment customisations as simple as possible. As part of our brand philosophy we like to give our readers tools they can implement in their lives, such as this one. When we first came up with the idea for this blog post, we wanted to create a comprehensive guide on uniforms for people who had no idea about design. For that, we came up with simple tips anyone could follow accompanied with rich visuals to help illustrate the idea. And now, we ve transformed it into a PDF so anyone can take it home. Enjoy! page 5
What is workwear? And what benefits does it have? page 6
What s a uniform? Funny question, isn t it? Everyone knows what an uniform is but can you actually define it? We couldn t, that s why we did a little research. A uniform is a kind of clothing worn by members of an organisation during the activities of such. It is hard to pinpoint where the first where created, but it is safe to say that they have been part of human civilisation since almost the very beginning as we ve always had de need to identify and label one another. When it comes to the workplace, not only do uniforms serve to tell individuals apart, but they also have an added marketing value. Properly designed workwear: Promotes equality among those who wear them Adds marketing value Creates a professional image Makes employees feel like part of the team Increases safety Saves time (by choosing what to wear and enforcing dress codes) page 7
How do I design my The workwear? Challenge Help! page 8
Don t worry, you don t need to have a degree in fashion, design or the ability to draw to come up with proper workwear. You d be surprised of what you can achieve with just the internet and a comprehensive account manager. But before we get to production you ll need to ask yourself a few questions. page 9
The Challenge PART 1: Research. page 10
ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: What makes my brand tick? What are my brand s strengths? How do people perceive my brand? What s my brand s storyline? Do I understand the different types of uniforms and what I need? page 11
Tip 1: There s no need to write an essay for any of these questions, just make a list of words, but make sure you have the right amount of content. Too little and you ll run the risk of lacking material. Too much and you may complicate the process. page 12
Tip 2: You may need to enlist the help of a friend or family member to answer some of the questions. The view of someone who s not as involved may provide some valuable insight. page 13
The Challenge PART 2: Design. page 14
Look for inspiration Go for timeless rather than trendy Select a palette of colours that will hold over time Choose materials that are comfortable and durable rather than trendy Think of the end user THE DESIGN Check out our gallery of examples, organised by industry at the end of this PDF. page 15
Time to Sketch: Now that you ve gathered all of the information, it s time to put your ideas down on paper. You may do this by hand or on a computer. If you don t have the skills, ask an artistic friend to give you a hand. You may also do it with a collage or in worst case scenario, just find a picture of something similar. page 16
The Challenge PART 3: Production. page 17
QUALITIES YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR IN A PRINTING AGENCY: Good communication Honesty Creativity Experience Industry knowledge Ideally, they should also offer: A healthy catalogue Graphic design help Express delivery A comprehensible return and exchange policy Get a Quote! page 18
Pro Tip: Ask your suppliers if they d like to sponsor your uniforms. We actually know of a man who managed to get the costs of his staff s workwear completely covered by a T-shirt brand. page 19
Gallery of Examples page 20
Delivery or at-home services. If your employees go to your customers houses, then some type of company clothing is an absolute must. In order to let a stranger into their homes, people need some kind of reassurance that lets them know that the person knocking on the door is a professional and not a thief. page 21
HEALTH INDUSTRY. Workwear in the health industry guarantees sanitation for the patient and comfort for the employee. Uniforms in hospitals also tend to be colour coded, allowing for organisation and simplifying the identification process during an emergency. page 23
FOOD INDUSTRY. Although today s kitchens are filled with all kinds of work uniforms and colours, the most popular one tends to be a simple white outfit with an apron. A clean white uniform assures clients that the cook is clean and therefore its restaurant. White garments also absorb less heat than other colours, keeping the staff as fresh as possible. page 25
who we ve worked with: Get a Quote! page 28
FACE-to-FACE customer service Branded workwear will allow your customers to quickly identify your employees, which translates to a faster service. page 32
MANUAL LABOUR & CONSTRUCtion companies. More than creating a brand, these types of businesses would benefit from custom workwear for safety reasons. The right attire would provide workers with the tools they need to realise their chores and reduce the chances of injuring themselves. page 38
FINAL THOUGHTS! You don t need to be a design mogul in order to come up with a uniform that works for your business. Remember to think of your brand s storytelling, find inspiration, design and have fun! Corporate workwear is not just a way to promote your business, it is an opportunity to express your brand s spirit and leave your mark on the world. Have fun and be safe! page 41
Ready to be part of the Printsome family? Get in touch! +44 (0) 203 598 2599 advice@printsome.com www.printsome.com Shipping from London, UK Get a Quote! page 42