A Tier List of Drupalcon Swag T-shirts
Tags: drupal
Published: 2023-06-06 10:55:36

A staple of conference swag is the t-shirt, and some companies do it better than others.  With Drupalcon Pittsburgh happening ~~soon~~ now¹, I thought I would shuffle through my t-shirt collection to rank some of the ones I've gotten at Drupalcons past.

## Lullabot
![Lullabot Shirts](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/k3dp36fbgnp1fo2evath.jpg)
- Fun, whimsical designs
- Probably won't be presumed as being a 'Bot while wearing these
- Limited quantities, so I missed out on them some years 😔

**A Tier**

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## Four Kitchens
![Four Kitchens Shirts](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/p2b72dp77dgkk6p9tgyl.jpg)
- A fun play on the company name
- Theme (usually) tied to the conference location
- There was a good chance of both me and a former manager wearing the same one of these shirts on the same day

**A Tier**

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## Cheeky Monkey Media
![Cheeky Monkey Shirt](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/btv41axcw6eqdx2iukcw.jpg)
- A handful of funny or nerdy options were available
- I'd wear the Drupal comm badge even through I'm not a Trekkie (though the graphic is a little too big), but the big slogan on the back takes this shirt out of something I'd wear in public
- The fabric of this shirt does not spark joy
- Not for me, but there's potential

**B Tier**

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## Acquia
![Acquia Shirts](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/w93qx43jxz7q8g5wf0ts.jpg)
- DC LA shirt has small, unobtrusive design and logo - wouldn't hesitate to wear going about a normal day.
- Slogans are not my thing, but I do like pink
- Sizing on the slogan shirt is _very_ snug

**B- Tier**

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## Pantheon

![Pantheon Shirts](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/352zpfqs3e7q0wk23vr2.jpg)
- Multiple designs to choose from that change each year
- Wait watching a demo, then wait again to get the shirt
- I don't vibe with the "I Make The Internet" slogan myself, but you do you
- Some creative takes on the company logo, that feel less awkward to wear as someone who has never worked there or used their product
- The company's leadership has [defended providing services to Alliance Defending Freedom](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/04/webops-platform-pantheon-defends-hosting-hate-groups-as-developers-quit/), which [the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated as a hate group for it's actions against LGBTQ+ rights](https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/alliance-defending-freedom)

**D Tier**

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## The basic logo
- I'll save the individual companies from shame, cause there's _a lot_
- I resist wearing shirts with just the logo of companies I've actually worked for² - I'm not going to wear one of an agency I don't, or a product I don't use
- Your marketing dollars are better spent on a shirt that doesn't only get worn when I'm going to get dirty cleaning my bike
- Your company probably has a designer on the team - give them a day to make something fun that people will be excited to wear

**D Tier**

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## Twilio
![Twilio Shirt](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/maa8bvc0hi2g2l6ahm96.jpg)
- Simple illustration related to the company's product

**B- Tier**

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## Mandrill
![Mandrill Shirt](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/40b5ydjn02slzlvvgtgp.jpg)
- It's just a logo, but it's colourful and could just be mistaken for something I bought after visiting the zoo.

**C+ Tier**

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![Tier ranking with company logos](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ux9h5c15m4wrqrctrtzt.png)


> Do you have a favourite swag shirt from a past conference? Is there a great shirt to get in Pittsburgh?  Some other great swag item you've received at a conference? Tell me about it in the comments.

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¹ I will not be there
² Most logos from any company, really

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And if your team is looking for a Senior Drupal Developer with oddly specific opinions on some niche topics, send me a message.