Want to make your products pop? Up your game with pop culture merchandise on t-shirts, mugs, posters and more.

Pop culture is a cornerstone of life – it’s everywhere from the clothes we wear, to the way we talk. Harnessing that influence isn’t just fun – it could be a commercially viable route to help you sell more products.

Ready to read on and get to grips with pop culture merch? From meme-y mugs to popular posters – it’s time to tap into some trends with Adobe Express.

Why do people buy pop culture merchandise?

Pop culture merchandise is everywhere – on t-shirts and jumpers to shelves, chopping boards and mugs. Beyond that, it’s an essential part of life – pop culture impacts how we talk, think, and express ourselves. Whether it’s a “May the force be with you” t-shirt that puts you in a community of millions of Star Wars fans, or a reference to a IYKYK cult classic on a badge or button, pop culture merchandise can be broad, niche, or anywhere in between.

Here are some common reasons people buy pop culture merch:

• To express their personality. Pop culture merch is an easy way to demonstrate what you love – a horror movie poster, a collection of models from your favourite show, a literary quote on a bookmark, or a print featuring the tour dates on a hoodie. It instantly gives people a way to express their interests and personality quirks.
• Relatability. Have you ever struggled to break the ice with someone until one day you see they’re wearing a t-shirt with a quote from your favourite show? Or maybe you see a tour poster of your favourite band in concert in a colleague’s office in a video call. Because pop culture represents common interests and ideas, it’s relatable. That means it can be a point of connection. Pop culture merch can connect people and get conversations started.
• Humour. We could all do with laughing a bit more, and what better way to break the ice than a pop culture reference that brings a smile? From funny quotes on mugs to goofy aprons, memes or in-jokes, sharing a laugh through printed merch is an easy way to lighten someone’s day.
• Gifting. Pop culture merchandise makes for an amazing gift. It’s a way to let people know you’re thinking about them, with something personalised or considerate of their tastes. Your friend might not need another boring old mug – but one with the entire ensemble of Seinfeld, Friends or Rick and Morty? Winning.
• Emotionally resonating. The right pop culture merchandise can stir all sorts of emotions – whether joyous, bittersweet or nostalgic. This means people may have more of a connection to something that reminds them of an experience related to a cultural moment or favourite movie.

5 pop culture t-shirts and merch ideas.

Need a little bit of inspiration? Here are 5 pop culture t-shirt and merch ideas to get you started:

1. Choose an iconic quote.

You can print a quote on anything – from posters, stickers and pins to t-shirts, mugs and wine glasses – you’re never short on options. Think about using quotes and lines that are iconic and instantly recognisable, rather than something that feels vaguely memorable.

2. Take inspiration from your favourite characters.

Want to get clever with your pop culture merch? Consider utilising iconic moments or motions in a popular show or movie. For example, maybe a character uses a particular hand sign that you could print onto a subtle hoodie. Or, perhaps there’s an iconic symbol that a character wears on their clothing that you could replicate.

3. Make the most of recognisable colour schemes.

Want something subtle, but still recognisable? You could design pop culture clothing inspired by recognisable colour schemes and patterns. Think about things like a green hat with a snake crest, or a scarf in black and white horizontal stripes. Bonus points if you can guess what franchises those refer to!

4. Craft your own pop culture memes.

If you really want to get creative, try your hand at making your own funny memes. You can then print these onto mugs, t-shirts and all sorts of merch.

5. Think outside the box.

Pop culture merch can be so much more than t-shirts and mugs (even though they’re great). Try to consider your audience when making certain references or jokes, and the types of products you’re making – would they appreciate them?

For example, pins can be great collectibles that can feature said references and, if customers like your artwork, they may come back for more to complete their sets. Or, maybe there’s a series of drink-related quotes you could put onto a selection of similarly themed drinks coasters? Don’t put yourself in a box – create some niche and inspiring merch that’ll have people talking.

Things to keep in mind when designing pop culture merch.

Want to know what separates good merch from bad merch?

Here are a few things to keep in mind when designing your pop culture merch.

• Keep it simple. You don’t need to go overboard – the last thing you want is to make something garish (unless that’s the point). Sometimes, it’s better to be conserved and clear, so that people don’t lose the references in the noise.
• Don’t plagiarise. Plagiarism can land you in a lot of trouble, so stealing artwork is a no-go. Anything image or quote you want to use should be in the public domain. If you want to partner with someone, approach them and work out a mutual agreement.
• Stay on-trend. Relevant merch sells, so staying on-trend is a must. Don’t be afraid to check what’s going on in the various online communities of different subcultures. For example, if an anime is relaunching, check the tags and see if there are any memes going viral that could inspire something.
• Consider your target audience. Every decision you make should be informed by your target audience. Some products might fly better with different demographics – and taking the time to understand more about what your audience might
• Do your research. Your products are going to look better if you’re in the know, both about regarding audience and their respective fandoms. Incorrect quotes, mischaracterisation, design blunders and bad product choices can quickly sink your goals of sharing good, quality pop culture merch.

How to stay on top of pop culture trends.

Pop culture is about what’s happening – it’s about art, beliefs and feelings. It’s also everchanging. That means you need to learn how to stay on top of pop culture trends.

But say no more – we’ve got it figured out for you:

• Use social media. Social media is one of the best ways to stay on top of trends – and it’s a great research tool. Regularly engaging with or watching different sub-communities on apps like X, TikTok and Instagram can help you stay relevant.
• Visit discussion boards. Discussion boards such as Reddit are amazing places to get real-time inspiration on what different fandoms are talking about. It can also be a gateway to social media channels you may have missed, as many boards share creative works and ideas with links to their other platforms.
• Stay on top of news and viral stories. By keeping up-to-date with stories, news and the general goings-on, you can ensure you stay relevant. Knowing what people are talking about is a vital part of determining which opportunities you choose to pursue.
• Meme culture. If there’s a meme running rampant on social media, they could be a great choice. These are niche, creative and loved by people in certain fandoms. If a meme is picking up, it could make for great merch.
• Entertainment news and releases. Is there a new season of a show launching? Maybe a record has just gone gold, or a tour has been announced? Either way, staying up-to-date with releases, resurgences, and other entertainment news is a great way to find inspiration.

How can Adobe Express help you design pop culture merchandise?

Ready to add to the fandom and create your pop culture merchandise? Adobe Express can get you started:

1. Use free pop culture t-shirt and merch templates.

Get design inspiration in a click, with thousands of free pop culture t-shirt, mug and merch templates to choose from. Choose a ready-made template, then easily edit it until your design is just right. With a user-friendly interface, you don’t need to be a design whiz to make amazing pop culture merch.

2. Edit your images in just a few clicks.

Whether you’re making a collage or just altering images, it couldn’t be easier. With Adobe Express, you can edit images in a few clicks to edit posters, flyers and more. You can even animate still images, quickly bringing life to online ads.

3. Utilise free generative AI tools.

With free, generative AI tools, you can bring life to designs with only a word. Experiment with design ideas, add images to creations and instantly produce mock-ups. With the power of AI, you can bring your concepts to life – and best of all, it’s okay for commercial use. So, whether you’re adding some images to an ad or powering your print-on-demand business, you’re good to go.

4. Upgrade your online storefront.

Want to give your online storefront a new look? Give your website an overhaul with the Adobe Express Website Page maker. Designing a webpage has never been this easy.

5. Showcase your new merch on social media.

Ready to advertise your new pop culture merch? Create amazing social media posts to showcase your products and arrange schedules for launches so you never miss a beat.

Create eye-popping pop culture t-shirts with the AI text effect generator.

Stand out from the competition by using text effects to add an extra pop to your pop culture t-shirts and merch. Adobe Express’ innovative AI text effect generator is quick and simple to use, helping you bring your designs to life with a range of colours, textures and awe-inspiring effects.

Show your customers there’s nothing plain about your t-shirt designs by selecting a quirky font or text effect that aligns with your pop culture reference. From an iconic quote in space-inspired lettering to monogrammed letters that glitter like gold, customisation is taken to the extreme with the handy AI tool. Just type in your text, describe the effect you want, and watch the generator do its thing.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

What program can I use to make t-shirt designs?

Adobe Express gives you the tools to easily create, edit and print your t-shirt designs. Make pop culture clothing with an easy-to-use, create-all app, print your designs and deliver them – all with Adobe Express.

What pop culture merch sells the most?

Some of the most common forms of pop culture merch include:

• T-shirts, hoodies and apparel
• Tote bags
• Mugs and other drinks containers
• Phone cases
• Stickers, pins, backpacks, posters, hats and stationery.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.