New mefi t-shirt design

January 19, 2002 5:15 PM

I'm working on some metafilter t-shirt designs, bascially just a slogan of some sort on the front, and the logo on the back. let me know what you think of these...
posted by mathowie (staff) to MetaFilter-Related at 5:15 PM (121 comments total)

Funny or stupid?
front

back

and did you get the reference?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 5:16 PM on January 19, 2002

Funny, I get the reference, and I'd wear it.

Make a black one.
posted by dong_resin at 5:30 PM on January 19, 2002

unamerican, right? funny, yes.
posted by palegirl at 5:31 PM on January 19, 2002

Kurt would have wanted it that way.
posted by dong_resin at 5:31 PM on January 19, 2002

I like it. But I like Twisted Sister, so what the hell do I know.

Reference=Kurt Cobain, Rolling Stone magazine cover 1993
posted by jonmc at 5:31 PM on January 19, 2002

would you do cafepress or something else?
posted by machaus at 5:35 PM on January 19, 2002

they'd be made by the exploding dog's shrit guy, so they'd be good quality. No cafepress iron ons here.

Yeah, I should do black too.

I guess the thing I'm most worried about is that the slogan has little to do with the site, but if it's funny enough it doesn't matter.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 5:36 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: Metafilter: community weblog

Back: So now you know what I do all day.

Or something to that extent.
posted by jennak at 5:39 PM on January 19, 2002

MeFi T-shirt: Good Idea

This Design: Not my cup of T
posted by willnot at 5:43 PM on January 19, 2002

good one, jennak
posted by machaus at 5:43 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: Get paid to surf the web.

Back: Read Metafilter at work.
posted by MegoSteve at 5:54 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: "Metafilter: community weblog" logo

Back: "Hello, my user name is ________."
posted by jennak at 5:59 PM on January 19, 2002

I'm liking megosteve and jennak's first suggestion (perhaps because they hit close to home?)
posted by jnthnjng at 6:01 PM on January 19, 2002

MegoSteve: may I suggest "Get paid to surf the web!!!!"?

Mine,
Front: "Is your dog as yummy as Slate thinks it is?"
Back: "Is your dog as yummy as Slate thinks it is?"
posted by holloway at 6:05 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: You're Wrong!
Back: No, You're Wrong!

My favorite tagline.
posted by tomorama at 6:18 PM on January 19, 2002

It's gotta have the rabbit-with-pancake mascot. All big and pixelated.
posted by kindall at 6:22 PM on January 19, 2002

Good stuff, Matt! :) (Answering the original question...)

Alternate:
Front: "Metafilter: Where you can eat pancakes, watch bunnies, watch bunnies with pancakes, eat ice cream, ZippityBop!, make Baby Jesus cry..."

Back: "...and have a pony."

Alternate alternate: Evil Bert! :D
posted by metrocake at 6:29 PM on January 19, 2002

It's gotta have the rabbit-with-pancake mascot. All big and pixelated.

And preferably animated.

Or a pony. Also animated.
posted by gleuschk at 6:30 PM on January 19, 2002

MegoSteve, that's fucking brilliant. I may go with that. How about a $1 cut on every shirt sold?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:32 PM on January 19, 2002

...or how about a couple free shirts? :)
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:35 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: "Metafilter: community weblog" logo
Back: "The only thing missing is a pony"
posted by gluechunk at 6:46 PM on January 19, 2002

must...correct...jonmc...on...original source of reference!

Sorry, dude. My inner trivia master was hurting.
posted by solistrato at 7:05 PM on January 19, 2002

Damn, sjc narrowly beat me to it.

Cobain copped the slogan from SST Records. He seemed to be under the impression that people would get the reference.
posted by jjg at 7:05 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: "I took it to MetaTalk"

Back: "And all I got was this lousy T-shirt"
posted by MiguelCardoso at 7:14 PM on January 19, 2002

sjc- happy to be corrected daddy-o, SST gave us my beloved Minutemen. Whoever said it first it's still true.

Repeat after me...

"this ain't no picnic....."
posted by jonmc at 7:20 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: "Metafilter"
Back: "Metatalk"

Or how about women's shirts where over the breasts would be:

"Double" and then "Post"

It'd be a hit. Easily modified for MeFi traning shorts for use of the buttocks.
posted by geoff. at 7:26 PM on January 19, 2002

Can't the word "fuckwit" appear somewhere?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:28 PM on January 19, 2002

Don't forget about the 1142 t-shirt!
posted by Neale at 7:34 PM on January 19, 2002

I vote for the pancake bunny....what else did you expect?
posted by bunnyfire at 7:41 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: MetaFilter
Back: It's WebCrack
posted by ColdChef at 7:41 PM on January 19, 2002

ColdChef - jesus, you ate your Wheaties this morning, didn't you?
posted by jonmc at 7:49 PM on January 19, 2002

If You Can Read This Shirt, The Terrorists Have Won.
posted by owillis at 7:56 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: Small breast pocket logo: "Metafilter.com
Weblog as conversation."
Center image on front: MeFiO grid.
Back: Pancake-wearing bunny image
and tiny ponies running across the bottom.
posted by Lynsey at 8:21 PM on January 19, 2002

On the front, the MeFi logo on the left chest with the more addictive than crack tag. On the back a diagram of a Skinner Box
posted by willnot at 8:24 PM on January 19, 2002

I like white T's better with the MeFi logo on them. I think it stands out better. Plus, I'm with willnot and others who like the smaller logo on the chest, like so:

Front.

Back.

Whatever you come up with, make 'em available in super-big sizes (4X or so) and I'll pop for a couple. Some of us are a little *cough* bigger than others.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:38 PM on January 19, 2002

4x?! oy.
posted by crunchland at 8:46 PM on January 19, 2002

crunchland, it's a little difficult for someone six-and-a-half feet tall and 260 pounds to squeeze into a medium.

On the bright side...

Never mind, there is no bright side.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:48 PM on January 19, 2002

#006699 in large, 100% cotton,
pre-shrunk, please.
posted by Lynsey at 8:50 PM on January 19, 2002

What? oh. sorry. that was line noise... yeah, that's what it was.
posted by crunchland at 8:51 PM on January 19, 2002

I like the original idea and Jenna's idea.
posted by somethingotherthan at 9:25 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: logo
Back: Keyboard protector sold separately.
posted by mattpfeff at 9:26 PM on January 19, 2002

Hmm

Love the shirt idea. Maybe

front="Am I #006699?"

back="MetaFilter"
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:43 PM on January 19, 2002

How about a screenshot of this thread on the back?

That'd mess with my mind. In a good way.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:46 PM on January 19, 2002

chalk another vote up for MegoSteve's 'paid to work' concept.

but i'd buy matt's 'corporate websites site suck' too. that line never grows old.

no pancakes please.


how about this frontside:

pardon me, but do you have any #006699 weblog?

(logo on back)
posted by danOstuporStar at 9:58 PM on January 19, 2002

dammit i still suck ... i keep forgettin ima corporate shill.
posted by danOstuporStar at 10:01 PM on January 19, 2002

Front: Left breast pocket logo: "Metafilter.com (4"wide) Back : ASK ME ANYTHING (12" wide)
If the idea is to draw attention to MetaFilter.
posted by Mack Twain at 10:23 PM on January 19, 2002

How about custom personalized posts in #006699 with logo upper left? For example,

Back:

You... are... all... in....my ...thrall.... soon my pretty ones, soon.

Front:

Animation
posted by y2karl at 10:45 PM on January 19, 2002

Or how about women's shirts where over the breasts would be:

"Double" and then "Post"

What?
posted by rschram at 11:17 PM on January 19, 2002

sorry, forgot the tags:

<snooty>pardon me, do you link on
  any #006699 weblogs?</snooty>

back=metafilter "we're all in this together" logo
posted by danOstuporStar at 11:21 PM on January 19, 2002

<puzzled>I still don't get it.</puzzled>
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:30 PM on January 19, 2002

If it was a two-color shirt, with the two colors being the MetaFilter bg color and its link color, I would buy and wear it. No words or logos, just the colors. But that wouldn't be very good for promoting the site.
posted by muta at 1:28 AM on January 20, 2002

metafilter on the front. honestly, when does anyone see the back of your t-shirt?
posted by modofo at 1:53 AM on January 20, 2002

Front:
feelingfashionable

Back:
Metafilter:
Ego as conversation

[Just my luck -- I finally buy the old t-shirt and Matt decides the redesign the bloody thing.]
posted by feelinglistless at 2:30 AM on January 20, 2002

The classic "Help administrator" metalk post.

I'm all for a Hope Me!-T
posted by j.edwards at 3:34 AM on January 20, 2002

My preference is for the basics: 100% pre-shrunk cotton; MeFi blue; logo on front (above where a pocket would be, but no pocket); plain blue back.
posted by Carol Anne at 7:18 AM on January 20, 2002

Animation

Come up with a tshirt that can do animation like that, and I'd buy one.
posted by crunchland at 7:44 AM on January 20, 2002

As long as it's black.
Also, I'd like to argue for the corporate websites still suck slogan.
I thought it captures the feel of MetaFilter, in that this place sort of feels to me like the inde band poised to go big.
When I saw the slogan I went "Right. Cool. Bingo."
Other, possibly funnier slogans haven't had that effect for me yet.
posted by dong_resin at 7:52 AM on January 20, 2002

rschram. I was going for a more conceptual... Hooters concept. Obviously the genius is beyond you.
posted by geoff. at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2002

Hey Matt: good call, we need some shwag new gear.

I'm sad to say that I don't like either of the contenders, however... the "Corporate websites" isn't funny to me (just a bandwagon kind of joke), and the "Read MeFi at work" pitch just doesn't appeal to my unemployed self. It feels like a very dot-commer gag - is that the target audience?

I think it would be better to go with a neutral tagline in the vein of one of these.
posted by Marquis at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2002

2 more cents...I agree with Marquis- the random images have become so familiar, tried and true. Why diverge?
posted by Voyageman at 9:25 AM on January 20, 2002

How about the back having the text from a 'classic' thread?
posted by RobertLoch at 10:26 AM on January 20, 2002

How about a simple design, with a nice graphic of a kitten bounding through a field and "MetaFilter" underneath. I'm sure you could find a photo like that somewhere.
posted by arco at 10:40 AM on January 20, 2002

I'd buy Jennak's idea or MegoSteve's
posted by DBAPaul at 10:41 AM on January 20, 2002

I would definitely buy a shirt with the "Corporate Websites" slogan, assuming they came in non-white colours. Punk rock, baby!
posted by jess at 11:31 AM on January 20, 2002

For the sake of the considerable number of us in Seattle, put the kabosh on "Corporate Websites Suck". We don't want a shirt that has the same slogan as everybody's bumpersticker.

Front: MetaFilter
Back: It Makes Baby Jesus Cry.

(Or perhaps: "Making Baby Jesus Cry Since 1999")

And here's a tagline for you, Matt

MetaFilter: 60% Barroom Brawl, 40% Group Hug.


posted by Shadowkeeper at 11:38 AM on January 20, 2002

Another idea...

On the front of the t-shirt (which is in Mefi Blue) we have something which looks like Metafilter's front page, complete with sidebar. The threads featured (about ten) are voted for by Mefi visitors from the 14201 now available ...

Then on the back we have a reproduction ofthe beginning of the most popular thread itself as it appears on screen ...

... why do shirts have to make a big statement -- surely there is room for being elaborate and giving the person sitting opposite you on the tube something to read...
posted by feelinglistless at 11:54 AM on January 20, 2002

I think opening this up for discussion was probably a huge mistake.
posted by crunchland at 12:43 PM on January 20, 2002

"I think opening this up for discussion was probably a huge mistake."

I just can't decide if that should be the front or back.
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:03 PM on January 20, 2002

Kafka: bingo.
posted by thebigpoop at 1:15 PM on January 20, 2002

Hooters concept. Obviously the genius is beyond you.

Or beneath me.
posted by rschram at 1:35 PM on January 20, 2002

"I think opening this up for discussion was probably a huge mistake."

Hehe. Mathowie's epitaph.
posted by dong_resin at 1:37 PM on January 20, 2002

as a matter of taste, I simply cannot wear a shirt advertising a web site.
posted by mcsweetie at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2002

i'd actually want the text for the "corporate websites still suck" shirt to be moved on the back, and have the metafilter text on the front.. or even just the MF on the front, like the other shirt. then again, beggars can't be choosers.

grr, i think someone stole my old metafilter shirt... and since i don't like buying the same thing twice, i'd quickly snatch this up.

other possible tshirts (with the MF always on front): we have cameras, n*gg*z with attitude, weblog of champions, and master debaters (most. immature. ever.).
posted by lotsofno at 1:55 PM on January 20, 2002

We have cameras: Ha! I'd buy that.
posted by Shadowkeeper at 2:48 PM on January 20, 2002

How about just the MeFi logo and nothing else?
posted by thebigpoop at 3:47 PM on January 20, 2002

I'd buy "We have cameras" too :)
posted by riffola at 3:50 PM on January 20, 2002

Bunnies. With PANCAKES.
posted by bunnyfire at 4:21 PM on January 20, 2002

What CarolAnne said. And please, no references
to crack or any other drugs or I won't be able to
wear it to work. And, maybe you all don't have
enough black t-shirts already, but I sure do! A
blue one as close to #006699 as possible would
be wonderful! (it's one of my "colors" ;-)
posted by Lynsey at 5:53 PM on January 20, 2002

*blushes*
posted by NortonDC at 6:07 PM on January 20, 2002

MetaFilter. Do you want pancakes with that?
posted by obiwanwasabi at 6:26 PM on January 20, 2002

Well, if we are voting I have to say I don't like the original 'suck' shirt because a) if you didn't get "the reference" then it just sounds bitter and b) if you do get the reference (a realllll stretch if you ask me) then it's a weak reference because the original one is "success doesn't suck" -- the only word in common being 'suck'; um, pass.

If we are supposed to comment then I don't like any of the "inside joke" shirts (although anything with 'fuckwit' is really close to being ok -- 'what fuckwit on crack made baby jesus cry?'). It makes mefi into an exclusive clubby feel which, if it is, I, like Groucho wouldn't want to be a member of even if I didn't feel so damn alienated around here all the time.

I do like the 'get paid to surf'

If we are supposed to contribute then allow me:

Front: MetaMe, MetaYou, MetaThatGuy, MetaWhoAskedYou, MetaIWasBeingSarcastic, MetaCalmTheHellDown, MetaBackOff, MetaGetALife, Meta This!
Back: just MetaTalk


posted by victors at 6:28 PM on January 20, 2002

[front]

MetaFilter.

[back]

Pancakes.
Ponies.
Porn.
Portugal.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 6:31 PM on January 20, 2002

I am in tears. I am loving this. I like the "You're Wrong. No, you're wrong!" one, but most of all this one:

Front: Get paid to surf the web.

Back: Read Metafilter at work

He just summed up my entire life in a goddamned t-shirt. And three of my coworkers.
posted by adampsyche at 7:41 PM on January 20, 2002

Make a bunch of new designs - all the same front (MetaFilter), different tag lines on the back. One is "You're wrong. No, you're wrong." The next is "More addictive than crack." and so on. That way, the shirts are similar to keep the branding, but people can also pick and choose what MeFi represents to them. (Which, of course, would seem to increase the chances of reaching the larger audience and garnering more cashola).

Also, whatever design/wording is chosen, I'd say make it ambiguous enough so that it's either a conversation starter or makes people wonder ... so dropping the ".com" part and the "community weblog" is a good start.

me: (wearing shirt, strutting along street)
stranger: "Hrm, MetaFilter ... intriguing ... what's that?"
me: "It's this magical place where all your dreams come true ... all the pancakes you can eat while riding a pony through a meadow filled with playing bunnies and kittens..." (dreamy look)
posted by cyniczny at 8:03 PM on January 20, 2002

I like Shadowkeeper's "60% Barroom Brawl, 40% Group Hug" one. It might intrigue people who have a mefi kinda sense of humour. If'n that makes sense. The 'classic thread' idea also appeals - it'd be really different. Novel. Unique. Peculiar.

And it probably should have 'metafilter.com', because some strangers will be shy and won't strike up conversations.
posted by kv at 8:11 PM on January 20, 2002

I'm turning Portuguese
I think I'm turning Portuguese
I really think so
(da na na na-na-na-na...)
posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:17 PM on January 20, 2002

Warning!:
Last year, the newsroom at my school paper had a hard time coming up with a design for their Annual End of the Year Teeshirt. The argued and argued. Their final result:

The only thing more controversial than The Daily Texan is this teeshirt."

Worst selling shirt we ever made.
posted by ColdChef at 8:38 PM on January 20, 2002

I accuse obiwanwasabi of being a Miguelista long after it was topical or even faintly amusing to do so.

I like Shadowkeeper's brawl/hug too.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:07 PM on January 20, 2002

If being a Miguelista is a crime, let me be guilty!

Miguel, the new fragrance from Liz Taylor.
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:16 PM on January 20, 2002

posted by kindall at 11:59 PM on January 20, 2002

I keep promising myself not to visit MeTa threads as they near their natural end, but do I learn? I do not.

Hey, jonmc: Trade one slightly used site buffoon card for that fresh whipping boy you've got?
posted by MiguelCardoso at 12:30 AM on January 21, 2002

my picks;

Front: Get paid to surf the web.
Back: Read Metafilter at work.

I think opening this up for discussion was probably a huge mistake.

You're Wrong. No, you're wrong!



and anything having to do with bunnies wearing pancake hats.

also, dark colored shirts are better bc white stains easily. up to size 4X would be most appreciated, too. :)
posted by sadie01221975 at 12:50 AM on January 21, 2002

Front: a small www.metafilter.com graphic over a breast, [...]

Hmmm. I'm not sure I get it. You mean like this?

[...] preferably with no pockets. Those just look dorky.

I wouldn't know. I've never seen a breast with pockets.
posted by webmutant at 2:26 AM on January 21, 2002

I say we go with webmutant's design.
I'd wear that.
posted by dong_resin at 8:44 AM on January 21, 2002

I'm with dong_resin.

No, wait, I live in Utah and would therefore be arrested.

On the other hand, I could wear it only at home.

No, wait, then my wife would kill me.

Guess it's pancakes and bunnies for me.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:42 AM on January 21, 2002

Front: How did I get so Smart? _{see my back}

Back: WW.METAFILTER.COM
Where Smat People Hang Out!

Kinda self mocking which is what I would like to see. We should always try to take the piss out of ourselves.

And yes, all typos intentional.

Or going the other way...

I Am User 6. You Are User 13894.

Vaguely Prisoneresque?
posted by Dagobert at 10:19 AM on January 21, 2002

I had forgotten it, skallas. Now you've gone and planted it back in my mind, and it will be weeks before I will have reburied it back in the darkest recesses of my brain, alongside mood rings and neon socks.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:36 AM on January 21, 2002

the sad thing is, i still have a hypercolor shirt or three in my closet. maybe i'll break it out to watch the "in living color" marathon or sport it to the next vanilla ice show...

nuts to that. i wouldn't even sport one on laundry day.
posted by boogah at 12:09 PM on January 21, 2002

Were those the same as the old "touch" shirt things in the eighties? I seem to remember it was Generra or something had a shirt you could leave heat-handprints on.
posted by Kafkaesque at 12:38 PM on January 21, 2002

"I'm part of the A-list cabal at .."
posted by Hildago at 12:40 PM on January 21, 2002

We used to laugh at the fashion victims who would wear those hypercolor shirts down here, in balmy southern Florida, because it took about three seconds for it to morph into a couple of underarm maps of the solar system, with a lovely map of the earth's core right over the lower back-buttock region.

God, how I miss those.
posted by dong_resin at 1:03 PM on January 21, 2002

........................PANCAKE BUNNY..................
posted by bunnyfire at 1:19 PM on January 21, 2002

Front: come for high-brow debating
Back: stay for chicken sex

(well, I'd wear it. Not in public, but I'd wear it.)
posted by ook at 2:03 PM on January 21, 2002

What where now?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:38 PM on January 21, 2002

front: Metafilter: community weblog

back: Best.Website.Ever.

posted by designflea at 12:43 AM on January 22, 2002

I think the first 4,496 MetaFilter user ids should be eligible for special shirts:

Front: MetaFilter user #4,496
Back: ph33r m3!

Seriously though-- MegoSteve and jennak's are my faves. Sign me up for one each.
posted by bschoate at 1:11 AM on January 22, 2002

ttrendel? What is your problem with self-scan?

I want this on the Shirt!
posted by ParisParamus at 4:58 AM on January 22, 2002

MetaFilter: 60% Barroom Brawl, 40% Group Hug.

this is good, but maybe a bit gay.

Pancakes and bunnies should be in there.
posted by Frasermoo at 6:01 AM on January 22, 2002

I like gay.
posted by kv at 6:52 AM on January 22, 2002

Get your gay on! Or not. 'cause that's OK too.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:36 AM on January 22, 2002

get your pancake on. bunny.
posted by bunnyfire at 8:30 AM on January 22, 2002

Front: MeFI logo small at left breast

Back: Check the size of that log.
posted by Frasermoo at 10:18 AM on January 22, 2002

Okay -- now I want a shirt that says, "Metafilter: It makes me smarter, and more angry about THINGS."
posted by webmutant at 1:24 PM on January 23, 2002

Seconded.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:20 AM on January 24, 2002

I like the Ben Brown line as well.
posted by thewittyname at 11:15 AM on January 24, 2002

Front: Preview
Back: Post
posted by liam at 11:16 AM on January 24, 2002

Last one to the party as always, but Megosteve's idea is brilliant. Count me in.

posted by Sinner at 12:22 PM on January 24, 2002

No-- I'm the last post! Last Post! Neener neener!

My ideal T-shirt would be a wearable MetaFilter. Ya know, wireless and all that-- live feed naturally.

You could toggle it between right-side up (for others to read) or upside down when you want to read it yourself.

So--

Front: (MetaFilter itself)
Back: This side intentionally left blank. Turn me around to kill some time.
posted by bschoate at 10:29 PM on January 24, 2002

I like the idea of the back of the saying:

Turn me around to kill, sometime.
posted by thebigpoop at 9:22 AM on January 25, 2002

Nice, liam.
posted by rushmc at 11:43 AM on January 25, 2002

This popped out of that thread that doesn't in fact strictly exist:

Front or back : "MetaFilter: Nice Threads"
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:57 AM on January 28, 2002