Computer aided systems and methods for creating custom products

A computer implemented method, comprising:

• providing by a computing system over a network for display on a display device of a first user, a first user interface enabling a first user to select an item image from a library of item images;
• receiving over the network at the computing system from the first user, via the first user interface, a selection of an image of a first item from the library of item images;
• providing, for display on the display device of the first user, a design customization user interface enabling the first user to define a first template comprising a plurality of design areas for use in item customization;
• enabling the first user to, via the design customization user interface:
• define different palettes of design elements and associate different palettes of design elements with different design areas of the first item, wherein for a given design area the user is enabled to:
• select one or more design elements from a design element gallery and/or provide one or more design elements, and
• designate a first of the design elements as a default design element for the given design area, wherein the default design element is to be displayed to an end user as a default in the given design area when the end user accesses an interactive online catalog page corresponding to the first item;
• enabling the default design element to be displayed, via the display device of the first user, in the given design area on the image of the side of the item;
• for the given design area, providing an interface that enables the first user to selectively:
• limit an end user to those design elements included in the palettes of design elements associated with the given design area in modifying the given design area of the first template;
• enabling the first user to add the first template to an online catalog accessible by a plurality of end users, wherein the first template is configured to be used by the end user to customize at least the first item;
• enabling a first end user interface to be displayed on an end user device of a first end user, the first end user interface configured to display at least one image of the first item, wherein the image of the first item is displayed with respective default design elements in respective design areas;
• enabling the first end user to modify respective design areas of the first template utilizing palettes of design elements associated with the respective design areas;
• and
• causing the first template, as modified by the first end user, to be printed or embroidered on a physical instance of the first item.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor perform operations comprising:

• providing over a network for display on a display device of a first user a first user interface enabling a first user to select an item image from a set of item images;
• receiving over the network, via the first user interface, a selection of an image of a first item from the set of item images;
• providing, for display on the display device of the first user, a design customization user interface enabling the first user to define a first template comprising a plurality of design areas for use in item customization;
• enabling the first user to, via the design customization user interface:
• define different palettes of design elements and associate different palettes of design elements with different design areas of the first item, wherein for a given design area the user is enabled to:
• select one or more design elements from a design element gallery and/or provide one or more design elements, and
• designate a first of the design elements as a default design element for the given design area, wherein the default design element is to be displayed to an end user as a default in the given design area when the end user accesses an interactive online catalog page corresponding to the first item;
• enabling the default design element to be displayed, via the display device of the first user, in the given design area on the image of the side of the item;
• enabling the first user to add the first template to an online catalog accessible by a plurality of end users, wherein the first template is configured to be used by the end user to customize at least the first item;
• enabling a first end user interface to be displayed on an end user device of a first end user, the first end user interface configured to display at least one image of the first item, wherein the image of the first item is displayed with respective default design elements in respective design areas;
• enabling the first end user to modify respective design areas of the first template utilizing palettes of design elements associated with the respective design areas;
• and
• causing the first template, as modified by the first end user, to be printed or embroidered on a physical instance of the first item.