How to Decide What Icons to Include in a Custom Print

One thing I am commonly asked by potential customers is, “what icons do you recommend including in a custom print?” It is hard to try to think about a person in terms of ten icons; sometimes it is hard to think of enough tangible things and sometimes it is hard to cut down. I’ve written this blog post to help you in the brainstorming process!

Sports

The place I always recommend starting is sports. Most people have at least one team they are loyal to or they have played a sport, and those are always fun to include. I can represent these in many different ways:

  • College Sports Pennants
  • Professional Sports Pennants
  • A bat, ball, or trophy
  • A logo for a tournament or the green for a favorite golf course
  • A jersey or uniform
  • A team mascot

There are a lot of creative ways to represent a favorite sport or sports team!

Pets

Another great place to start is pets. Most people have at furry friend that is a huge part of their life, so pets are a great thing to add to a custom print! I can do dogs, cats, or any other animal that is important to you. If you want a pet included on your print, I ask that you email me a high resolution photo of the pet, straight on if possible.

Food and Drink

The next thing I like to think about is favorite foods and drinks. These are easy way to add some personality to your custom print. I have done all kinds of variations of food and drinks, including 3/4 full cups of coffee, signature drinks from weddings, specialty food and drinks with logos from restaurants, and more.

Music

Another great start in a custom print is music, whether that is a musical instrument that the person plays, or a favorite band. For music lovers, I have done:

  • Instruments 
  • Vinyl style records of favorite bands
  • Festival logos
  • Headphones or a record player for those who cannot pick just one band

Occupation

For many people, their occupation is a huge part of who they are. I can represent these through company logos if they love where they work, or more general symbols such as an apple for a teacher or a gavel for a lawyer.

Greek Letters

Another fun way to add a unique element to your custom print is through adding your sorority or fraternity affiliation. You can do this through just the letters, a pin, the house, or any other symbol.

Travel

For those who enjoy travel, adding a representation of some of their favorite destinations or sentimental destinations is a great addition to a custom print. For people who have moved or lived in many different destinations, representing those places also adds a sentimental touch to the print. Given the number of destination-related prints I have, I can represent travel in endless ways. For travelers generally, I can do:

  • A passport
  • A suitcase
  • A globe

For specific destinations, I can do:

  • Famous landmarks from the place
  • Postage-stamp style representation of the place more generally
  • A tree or flower to represent the climate of the place
  • A road sign or map
  • A beloved lake or river

  • An iconic representation of that place (e.g., a taxi cab for New York City)

We can get really creative on these representations because there are so many options!

Hobbies and Interests

For my cross stitchers, puzzlers, gamers, or fishermen, hobbies add some uniqueness to a custom print! Some hobbies I have represented include puzzles, fishing, gaming, reading, chess, sewing, running, photography, and dance. I have also done a true crime podcast, tarot cards, Taylor Swift, astrology representations, and representations from books and movies such as a Golden Snitch from Harry Potter. These are great options to let someone’s personality show in the print!

Weddings

A new type of custom print that I have recently started offering is custom wedding prints consisting of the most special icons from your special day. In wedding customs, I typically recommend the following icons as a starting point:

  • Dress and Suit
  • Rings
  • Wedding date
  • Signature cocktails
  • Cake
  • Bouquet
  • Venue
  • Bridesmaid dress
  • Shoes
  • Getaway car
  • Favor

In wedding planning, there are always special, unique elements that make each wedding amazing. In order to capture these to the best of my ability, if you place an order for a custom print, email me pictures of each of the icons you want to represent.

A Final Note

These categories are by no means an exhaustive list of what you can include in a custom print. They just provide a starting point for brainstorming. If you want to set up a call to discuss other options for your custom print or talk through the icons you’ve chosen, note that when you place the order! And of course, if you need any more inspiration, you can check out my instagram where I have posted dozens of custom prints!

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