I only recently found out a lot of this stuff when RedBubble and TeePublic joined forces. TeePublic reached out to me upload my fanart over there and I asked them what the brands, particularly CBS/Star Trek was looking for. The rep (and other approved fanartists) actually gave me some really helpful info that isn’t on the Brand Partnership page.
Here’s the TL;DR if you don’t want to read the whole thing:
- Avoid actors’ faces.
- Avoid controversy, politics, pessimistic themes.
- Focus more on classic original series, or whatever is playing now or coming up (Disco, Picard, Lower Decks.)
- Avoid crossovers that will require two brands approve.
- Cute/funny/lighthearted themes seem to get through the approval process faster.
- Be patient. It can take months.
1. Saleable vs Licensed:
First know that there is a difference between being
allowed
to sell your Star Trek fanart on a platform, and being
licensed
by the brand. My stuff is allowed - not licensed by Star Trek. CBS isn’t promoting my work, or using my art - they just said it’s ok to sell it. That’s good enough for me. The art that gets licensed tends to be far superior to what I can do at this point in my art career. Plus, I’m very niche. I like my Garashir, Spirk and Orions and frankly that stuff doesn’t really sell for them. Which take me to the next point …
2. Brand ’s Self Image
Know what the brand thinks of itself. Star Trek sees itself as very optimistic, uplifting and forward-looking. They tend to want art that makes people feel good, or at least no feel bad. They feel strongest about promoting the “Core Brand” - Classic Trek, and whatever is currently airing and coming up. So think Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks etc. That kind of (free) promotion is good for their brand. And they don’t care for controversy. Star Trek as a brand icon has always been willing to take risks. CBS/Paramount don’t really share that enthusiasm.
3. Avoid (accurate) faces of actors.
When you use the actors’ faces, you not only have to get CBS’s permission, but then the talent agency/representative permission. That takes ages and ages. Just avoid it if you can. That said …
4. Babies and Animals:
Stylized, chibi or animal versions of characters actually have a good chance. Baby trek, Trek cast as puppies, whatever - that sort of thing, especially if it’s cute and/or funny, has a better chance.
5. Originality
Come up with stuff that hasn’t already been done a million times. Facepalming Picard and stuff like that is starting to get rejected just because there is so much of it, and they want to move forward with Picard.
6. Look ahead:
Think about what the characters and themes that are coming back for Picard - those probably have a good chance. Remember, getting Jeri Ryan’s face on a mug probably won’t work, but her ocular implant is recognizable on its own and can be used in something more stylized.
I hope that helps. Anyone with suggestions, stories of successes or rejections you’d like to share – please jump on!
@ladyyatexel I think you have some experience with this?
Yeah, this is all accurate to my experiences with getting my Deep Space Nine image approved for sale by CBS. I think I was contacted about putting it into that program, even. But even that image, which is as neutral as possible and I was prompted to submit to the program, took a long time to go through the filters on the approval end.
Most of my other Star Trek work is focused on not only people’s faces, but relationships CBS doesn’t endorse Because Reasons, so I honestly didn’t even try with that.
There’s a weird balance of “make more of what you’ve seen this brand produce in the past in order to conform to the brand” and “make something different enough that they bother with it”.
Also worth noting, probably keeping with the optimism and not acknowledging anything bad happening ever angle, I was not allowed to sell my approved work for them on face masks, so don’t go through the trouble of making something with that specific item in mind!
