A Taste of Home: T-Shirt Design for Docks Beers

Sometimes the best design ideas start with something a little bit silly.

Back in early 2026, Docks Beers was getting ready to release its first Nitro Stout, and I wanted to create something that nodded to the heritage of stout advertising while still feeling completely at home in Grimsby.

The starting point was the iconic Guinness toucan – but rather than simply recreating something that had been done before, I wanted to give the idea a local twist.

Enter: the oystercatcher.

From the Guinness Toucan to a Grimsby Oystercatcher

I first really noticed oystercatchers after seeing one illustrated on a medal from a local Tape2Tape race. With their long orange beaks, black and white feathers and slightly comical proportions, I thought they were brilliant little creatures.

They’re also a familiar sight around our coastline and the Humber, which made the oystercatcher a perfect character to bring into the world of Docks Beers.

And, as notably noisy and conspicuous birds, I feel a certain personal connection to them too.

I started sketching an oystercatcher walking alongside a pint of Docks Beers – a simple scene that gave a subtle nod to classic beer advertising while creating something with its own personality and a connection to the local area.

From there, A Taste of Home was born.

Taking an Idea From Sketchbook to T-Shirt

What I particularly like about this project is that it didn't stop at creating an illustration.

I developed the original sketch into finished artwork, worked with Recognition Express Grimsby to get the design printed, modelled the finished T-shirt for the product photography, and then set everything up for sale through the Docks Beers WooCommerce store.

From drawing a funny little bird to seeing people actually buying and wearing it, I was able to take the project through pretty much the entire process.

That's one of the things I enjoy most about working across graphic design and marketing. A good idea doesn't have to live inside an Illustrator file – it can become a real product, with its own photography, e-commerce listing and marketing behind it.

A Design With a Sense of Place

The finished design is deliberately simple: an oystercatcher, a pint and a little bit of personality.

But behind it is a combination of references that make it distinctly Docks Beers – stout heritage, the local coastline and a brewery firmly rooted in Grimsby.

It doesn't shout about being local. You don't necessarily need a landmark or the word "Grimsby" printed across something to give it a sense of place. Sometimes a funny little bird walking alongside a pint can do the job.

And seeing people choose to spend their own money on something that started as a sketch in my notebook is still a pretty great feeling.

Need a T-Shirt or Merchandise Design?

If you have a brand that deserves something more interesting than a logo slapped on a T-shirt, I can help.

Through La Ola Studio, I work on illustration, merchandise, branding and graphic design for independent businesses, creating ideas that have a bit of thought, personality and meaning behind them.

Whether you've already got an idea or just know you want to make something people will actually want to wear, get in touch through my Contact Me page and let's make it happen.