In a world where youth voices often go unheard, the students of CDMA are making a statement — literally — through bold designs, custom shirts, and hands-on heat press work. The Digital Print Workshop wasn’t just a class. It was a movement of creativity, confidence, and communication.
Welcome to “Design That Speaks,” where every press delivers purpose and every tee tells a story.
🎨 Youth Designers Take the Lead
At the heart of the workshop was a question:
“If you had one message to put on a shirt, what would it be?”
The answers came in waves — from affirmations like “Stay Solid” to messages like “Lead with Purpose” or “Drive Smart. Live Long.”
Using tools like Canva, Procreate, and Adobe Illustrator, students mapped their ideas into striking visuals. They selected fonts that matched their tone, added culturally relevant graphics, and balanced color palettes to deliver a brand-level experience.
“This isn’t just a shirt. It’s my mindset.”
— Laila, Workshop Student
From streetwear to statement wear, these young creatives treated each T-shirt as a digital canvas — expressing identity, culture, and advocacy all at once.
🔥 From Digital Files to Fabric: Mastering the Heat Press Process
Once designs were finalized, the real fun began.
With help from workshop instructors, students stepped into the production zone — learning how to:
- Export artwork into cuttable vinyl files
- Weed out excess vinyl with precision
- Properly align and press designs onto cotton tees using professional-grade heat press machines
The heat press station became a place of excitement and suspense. Students timed each press, then peeled back the protective sheet to reveal their final product — a moment of pride captured over and over again.
“My heart was beating when I lifted the press. When I saw the shirt — I knew I made something real.”
— Jaden, 15
Each student walked away not only with a shirt, but with hands-on knowledge in custom apparel production — a skillset linked to real income streams.
👕 Shirt Reveals with a Message
Some designs were powerful, others playful — but all of them intentional.
One group created shirts featuring seatbelt icons, referencing their experience covering the Youth Traffic Safety Town Hall as youth reporters. Another design said “Glow Different,” inspired by their work at the Glow Party Safe Driving Pledge activation.
These weren’t just fashion statements. They were conversations starters — worn proudly in school, at events, and soon… online.
Students are now prepping a limited-edition merch drop powered by their own designs, where proceeds go toward youth-led programs at CDMA.
💼 Digital Skills, Real-World Readiness
The workshop wasn’t only about creating great apparel. It was about building career-ready creatives.
Students gained:
- Branding and design thinking techniques
- Problem-solving when things didn’t go right on the press
- Collaboration through team critiques and merch planning
- Entrepreneurship — from pricing products to pitching promo ideas
“Now I know how to design something, make it, and sell it. I didn’t just learn a skill — I found a hustle.”
— Aaliyah, Workshop Graduate
📹 Go Behind the Scenes
Want to see the action in real time? Watch our You tube channel: Our You tube channel
and visit our Instagram page: Youth traffic safety town hall
You can also learn more about our youth-led print team and merch program by visiting the official : program page
🔑 Why It Matters: Youth Expression Is Youth Empowerment
This wasn’t just another summer class. This was a lab of leadership — proving that when students have the tools and trust to create, they show up bold, intentional, and ready.
- Design = Voice
- Production = Power
- Merch = Movement
At CDMA, our digital leaders aren’t waiting for opportunity. They’re pressing their message into the future — one T-shirt at a time.
📝 Learn More About How We’re Building the Next Generation of Digital Leaders
👉 [Contact Us or Explore Programs]([Contact page
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