May 22, 2013 9:30 AM

Gallery: How Disney and Threadless Built a 200K-Person Design Team

01
threadless-monsters-inc-mike-w-doors-wired-design
One of 487 submissions in the Threadless/Disney design contest, the winning submission, shown here, earned its designer $2,500 and some serious bragging rights.
02
threadless-monsters-inc-mike-w-faces-wired-design
Designs in these competitions cover a considerable range of design styles from impressionistic interpretations to hard, flat, colorful representations.

03
threadless-pixar-monsters-inc-sully-psychadelic-wired-design
Opening up valuable media properties to crowds can be dangerous; this design references posters that came out of the drug-fueled psychedelic scene of the 1960s, but more overt references to substance abuse, sex, and other adult matters are strictly prohibited.
An image from the interior of TROLLS (Text copyright © 2012 Wendy Froud; Illustrations copyright © Brian Froud)
04
threadless-pixar-monsters-inc-key-holes-wired-design
Disney and Threadless have figured out how to unlock the potential of a global creative team, creating value for all of the stakeholders.

05
threadless-disney-pixar-doors-wired-design
Subtlety is a common theme among designs that win these competitions. None of the marquee characters are present in this design, but fans would immediately recognize the reference.
06
threadless-monsters-inc-mike-w-wired-design
While some designs push the envelope of content or style, others are just well executed interpretations of the characters that could have easily originated in Disney's famed "Imagineering" labs.

07
threadless-disney-marvel-iron-man-watercolor-wired-design
*Monsters Inc* is the latest Disney title to get a Threadless contest, but they've previously sponsored design competitions for *Iron Man*, *Muppets*, and others, birthing new t-shirt designs like this expressionistic watercolor, an homage to *Iron Man* that would almost certainly be rejected at a Disney design review.
08
threadless-disney-marvel-iron-man-latin-wired-design
*Iron Man* meets *Low Rider* — another design that would be unlikely to come from Disney's officially sanctioned design team.

09
threadless-disney-marvel-iron-man-launching-wired-design
This minimal design subtly evokes *Iron Man*, without featuring decidedly uncool elements like a logo.
The author's copy of FAERIES, the seminal fantasy art book by Brian Froud and Alan Lee, first published in 1978 (Photo: Ethan Gilsdorf)
10
threadless-disney-marvel-assembly-wired-design
Global media brand meets hipster ethos in this DIY-inspired design.

The bloc wants to curb Big Tech’s grip on children with its new EU KIDS ACTS, but age checks, parental oversight, and privacy concerns could make its plan difficult to implement.

Isabella Ward

I Made Robot Vacuums Clean Up Cherry Juice and Cheerios. These Won

My hands-on tests reveal which models can scrub stains, reach difficult corners, and navigate a chaotic home.

Nena Farrell

How Self-Driving Cars Might Change Crash Testing Forever

Lie down in a car, and you’re more likely to get seriously hurt in a crash. But a driverless future is forcing governments to revisit long-standing safety issues.

Aarian Marshall

Boox Just Announced the Palma 3 E-Reader

The e-paper device maker also launched two new color digital notebooks last night, the Note Air6 C and Mini C.

Nena Farrell

China Isn’t Buying Silicon Valley’s Call for an AI Slowdown

The US and China agree that advanced AI poses serious risks. But Beijing is deeply skeptical of a deal that prioritizes keeping US companies ahead.

Louise Matsakis

Why It Seems Like Great White Sharks Are Overrunning Maine

While a bunch of sharks cruising the Maine coast may seem ominous, it’s actually a sign of a conservation success story.

Molly Taft

Polymarket’s Next Bet? It Can Also Be a Media Company

The legal battle over whether prediction markets are a form of gambling has overshadowed something else entirely: They’re already a new form of media.

Kate Knibbs