There’s nothing quite like that first sip of your morning coffee, especially from your favourite mug. You may not realise it yet, but mugs do so much more than just hold your beverages. Whether on kitchen cupboards or in office pantries, they can serve as personal statements, thoughtful gifts and powerful marketing tools.
Need some guidance on designing the perfect mug? You’ve come to the right place. Designing a mug involves more than just choosing a shape and colour – it’s about creating something unique and meaningful. Whether you’re looking to surprise a loved one with a photo mug or to design company logo mugs for brand promotion – the right design can make all the difference.
Ready to turn this everyday essential into something truly special? In this article, let’s explore how to create your own mug that will leave a lasting impression.
How to create the perfect mug
Our custom mugs are as easy to create as they are to enjoy. At VistaPrint, we offer a range of mugs that are great for professional and personal purposes. You can pick, upload and print your mug design – all within our easy-to-use design studio. And you can do it all from the comfort of your own home – whether you’re designing on a computer, tablet or smartphone. What’s not to love?
Here’s our step-by-step guide to creating your personalised mug:
- Think of its purpose
From business giveaways to personalised presents and a little treat for yourself, each type of mug serves a specific purpose. Understanding what that purpose is will help to simplify your design journey. Are you marking a milestone with a special gift for your significant other or creating branded merchandise for your company’s next event? Consider these questions before choosing your mug type to ensure you find the best option for your specific needs.
- Choose a mug type
Once you’ve decided on your purpose, the next step is to choose the mug type that matches the person you’re gifting it to or the occasion you’re designing it for. Consider how you (or they) intend to use it. For coffee lovers, a cork base ceramic mug with a spill-resistant lid is a popular choice. For office workers, a commuter travel mug is a great companion for a long day. Whatever your needs, we have a range of mugs to suit a variety of styles.
Need some inspiration? Here are a selection of mug types and some of the reasons why our customers love them:
- Personalised Mugs: With eight vibrant colour options to choose from, this classic option is a customer favourite for a reason.
- Heart Handle Mugs: Featuring a special heart-shaped handle, this mug is great for celebrating special occasions like Valentine’s Day or an anniversary.
- Large Coffee Mugs: Our largest sized mug lets you savour your favourite brews for longer.
- Cork Base Ceramic Mugs: With a removable cork base and convenient plastic lid, this option lets you enjoy your coffee on the go.
- Enamel Camping Mugs: With a durable enamel design, this option is perfect for camping trips and outdoor adventures.
- Fine Style Mugs: Crafted from elegant porcelain with a uniquely-bent handle, this mug makes a sophisticated and timeless gift.
- Thermal Mugs: With double-walled copper insulation, this practical mug keeps your drinks cooler or warmer for longer.
VistaPrint Tip
Want to create branded mugs for giveaways, events and more? When choosing promotional merchandise, practical items like custom travel mugs, vacuum insulated cups and printed coffee cups are great options. They’re fun, functional and keep your brand top of mind.
- Pick an eye-catching design
The key to making your custom mug truly special? A unique and eye-catching design. When creating yours, you’ll find a variety of themes and styles to choose from. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion or wanting to create a personalised favourite, there’s a design to suit your needs.
- Design gallery: From “World’s Best Mug” to witty lines and so much more, our design gallery has customisable templates to suit your personal preferences. Whatever fun style you pick (and there are hundreds of them), you can make easy and quick adjustments – all within our design studio.
- Upload your image: Have your own photo ready to go? Upload images from your mobile, Facebook, tablet or computer and edit it within our design studio. Need some help? Our Smart Assistant can save you time by automatically creating a layout for you and helping with your image selections.
- Identify your design area or photo style
For custom mug printing, you can choose between two-sided and wraparound options. Here are the main differences between the two printing types:
- Two-sided printing: This allows you to place your design or photo on the front and back of the mug. It’s an ideal option for personalised messages or designs that need to be visible from any angle.
- Wraparound printing: This lets you extend your design all the way around the mug. It’s a great choice for larger graphics or panoramic images.
- Add design elements and text
Once you’ve chosen your printing style, it’s time to get even more creative. You can add text, pictures and other design elements like clipart or icons to make your mug print truly stand out. Consider including motivational quotes, humorous illustrations or vibrant graphics. To make your design extra personal, add a memorable date, unique phrase or a heartfelt message.
- Preview your final mug design
Happy with your design? Let’s go through this quick checklist before finalising:
Text: Is your message clear and easy to read? Make sure the font stands out and isn’t too small for the mug’s surface. We recommend using font sizes from 10 to 15 for readability.
Margin: Does your design fit within the printable area? Double check that no part of your design is getting cut off or pushed to the edges.
Info: Is everything spelt correctly? Ensure there are no typos or inaccuracies in your text.
Images: Have you chosen high-quality images? We recommend high-resolution images that are free from any blurriness.
Take a moment to review your designs and make any final tweaks.
- Place and wait for your order
Once you’re happy with your mug design (or designs), it’s time to hit that order button and leave the rest to us. We’ll print and pack your custom mugs so they arrive ready to warm up anyone’s day.
Personalised Mugs: FAQs
Before we wrap up, let’s answer a few frequently asked question about printed mugs:
How can I wash my personalised mugs?
Our mugs are microwave and dishwasher safe. For the best results, place them securely in the dishwasher or wash them by hand. We recommend hand washing the mug with warm soapy water to avoid any damage.
How can I make sure that the white background on my design matches the white mug?
If you’re uploading an image or design, one trick is to ‘knock out’ the white in your design. Photo imaging or design software makes it possible to remove any colour from that part of your design. When you add that design to a white mug, the white of the mug will be visible.
Have some more questions on your mind? You can visit our FAQ section to find more information about our personalised mugs.
Creating your own mug is a fun and rewarding process. Whether it’s for personal or business needs, following these steps will help you to create a mug that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
VistaPrint Tip
Want to create more personalised favourites? From canvas prints to photo books and more, discover our range of one-of-a-kind keepsakes designed to make your moments and branding stand out.
