T-Shirt Design

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Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time to reflect on the threads that connect us: nature and traditions, ancient and modern architecture, and the richness of our shared emotions. Working on this project was such a joy because it wove together our love for branding, our deep connection to Latin American culture, and our commitment to supporting a community organization. 

The Ask

Design a commemorative T-shirt for a diverse school in Denver, CO. A group of Latin American parents and staff had the idea to create a T-shirt to celebrate HHM around the concept of We are Familia, deliberately using words in English and Spanish to express the bilingualism of our school and community.

Design Brief / Parameters

Include words or graphics that capture the context we want to bring forward with the design:

• Unity / Unidad

• Feisty / Fire / Lucha / Fuego

• Resistance / Resistencia / Aguante

• Justice / Justicia

• Togetherness / Juntos

• Community / Comunidad

• Strength in numbers / diversity / Equidad / Diversidad / Dioferentes / Iguales

• Roots / History / Herencia (Shared and Different) / Raíces / Historia

• Alegría / Joy

• More symbols/colors

Stay away from stereotypes.

The Process: Putting Everything Together

When approaching this project, we knew we wanted the design to feel vibrant and inclusive. Latin America is incredibly diverse, and representing such a vast region without relying on stereotypes is both a challenge and an opportunity. Our process began with identifying symbols that could honor different parts of the region, like the condor of South America and the coquí frog of the Caribbean, while also weaving in the elements that unite us: our language, our families and communities, our love for music, and our shared journeys as migrants and descendants of migrants. The result is a design rooted in joy, resilience, and cultural pride —one that reflects the spirit of 'We Are Familia' and celebrates the strength of our community.

Below is the deconstruction of some of those symbols. 

Cóndor

A powerful staple of South America.

Flute / Flauta

A reminder of the musical richness of our countries. 

Mountains

Representing the mountain range in Colorado AND also a nudge to the mountains in Latin America.

Quetzal

An important symbol in prehispanic cultures. The word quetzal means "precious" or "sacred" in several Mesoamerican languages.

Coquí Frog

A lovely frog native to Puerto Rico. Check out some coquí sounds in PBS Kids’ Alma’s Way’s trip to Puerto Rico. 

Hummingbird / Colibrí

Hummingbirds have a deep connection with Latin America, where they originated and where hundreds of species thrive, with many found in South and Central American countries like Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.

Ñ

The unique letter in our language, “la ñ”. It’s essential for its “unique phonetic value, representing a sound not found in Latin, and for its strong cultural significance as a symbol of the Spanish language and heritage”.

Sillas

The nostalgia of our childhoods and our history. Check out this video and this one to learn more.

Family / Familia

A nudge to the importance of family life in Latino cultures, but also to the school community that feels like a family; not always agreeing on everything, but always caring for each other. 

Corn / Maíz

(Maíz, choclo) is a vital crop in Latin America, serving as a foundational food source and cultural staple. From pozole to arepas, tortillas, tamales, and everything in between, corn is in the heart (and stomach!) of many of our cultures. 

Paletas

A nudge to our beloved “paleteros” everywhere. Walking their carts under the Denver sun.

Fire & Fist

 A reminder that we need to keep fighting the fight to protect each other and celebrate our inner fire.

Monarch Butterfly / Mariposa Monarca

The monarch butterfly migrates every year from the northern United States to central Mexico and back. It represents our family journeys.

Pyramids / Pirámides

Latin America boasts many famous pyramids in places like Mexico, Perú, and Guatemala. These buildings typically served as temples or ceremonial platforms, not tombs like in Egypt.

The Result

Click image to get yours!