Print Design Podcast

This week we are talking about some beautiful chocolate boxes! My guest is Allison Henry Aver from Letter A Studio out of Portland OR. 

In this episode we talk about how she started her design career in NYC and some of the studios she was with there. Then we get into chatting about Vests, yes, making vests. ;) We talk about cute boxes and other great packaging as well. 

Our deep dive on this episode is the Spring & Mulberry chocolate boxes that Letter A Studio recently designed and put out into the world. We talk about the ideas and story behind the design, how it all came together, and some production details too! Check the links below to find Letter A Studio and their work, as well as where to find Spring & Mulberry chocolate. 

THE LINKS:

Letter A Studio Website

Letter A Studio Instagram

Spring & Mulberry Chocolates

Print Design Academy YouTube - Teaching Graphic designers about print.

Print Design Academy Website 

FREE Print Ready File Checklist 

This week we are getting int some offset print for a legendary bike brand, Yeti Cycles. My guest this week is Drew Pautler from Good Fortune Collective out of Vancouver, BC. 

During this episode, we talk about the incredible Yeti Cycles Handbook and talk about how it has been visually in the making for 30+ years. We talk about how this project started and came to life during the "work from home" pandemic, and how they crafted an incredible brand experience for the cycle industry ambassadors.

Check out the links below to see the incredible work that the team and Good Fortune Collective puts together. 

Also don't miss the launch of Print Design Mastery on May 12th!

THE LINKS:

Good Fortune Collective Work

Good Fortune Collective Instagram

Print Design Academy YouTube

Print Design Academy Website

FREE Print Ready File Checklist

In this episode you are getting the full story and introduction to Dave and Gabby.

We share our backgrounds in the design and print fields as well as how we first met. We also talk about our first memories of printed stuff and nostalgic print.

Gabby and I also share the origins of Print Design Academy, and what we are building and creating for you over the next few months!

Direct Mail...Sounds boring right? But hang tight, lets get creative with it. In this episode I'm going to share with you some ways that you can get really creative with your design and help your customer make a big impact with direct mail. 

I talk about diecutting, awesome papers, foil stamping, coatings that smell like bacon, all things to get the customers attention and create a memorable experience in print. 

THE LINKS:

Print Design Academy YouTube: CLICK HERE

Free Download "Print Ready File Checklist": CLICK HERE

This week we are diving into some offset print! My guest on this episode is Nathaniel Navratil from Studio Foley out of Fargo, North Dakota! @studio.foley

During this episode we talk about retro toy packaging, a redesigned and rebranded Easyriders Magazine, and a deep dive into a booklet he designed while working at NDSU. 

The NDSU University booklet project was a Dining and Residence Life guide that I first saw on Instagram. This project has 4 different covers, usings a few different papers, and is impossible to ignore. Nathaniel shares the purpose behind the piece, where the idea came from and how he decided on the format, the design and production, and all the details in between. Check out the links below to see what this book looked like. 

THE LINKS

Studio Foley Website: CLICK HERE

Studio Foley Instagram: CLICK HERE

NDSU University Booklet Project: CLICK HERE

Print Design Academy YouTube: CLICK HERE

Free Download "Print Ready File Checklist": CLICK HERE

I often say this about print, it has staying power. It has the ability to create a very memorable experience for the person who receives it or is looking through it. And the project we are talking about in this episode, definitely accomplished that. 

My guest on this episode is Mike Klok, but you might know his as @stuffedbrain on Instagram. We are doing a deep dive into the client gift box that he created and sent out. Let me tell you, this think looks awesome, and was created for much less $$ than you think. 

That is the other exciting thing about print. There are ways to make it really special, and not cost a pile of money. Mike nailed this!

We also get into his earliest memory of print and the first ever project that he designed and printed. Oh, and a 3D craft beer label, complete with 3D goggles. 

Mike is an awesome guy and I really enjoyed our conversation. I know you will to. 

THE LINKS:

Stuffed Brain Studio: CLICK HERE

Stuffed Brain Instagram: CLICK HERE

Craft Beer Label Design Course: CLICK HERE

Print Design Academy YouTube: CLICK HERE

This week we are diving into an award-winning annual report. My guest is Chris Duchaine from Ideas by Duchaine.  @ideasbyduchaine

This Annual Report is another awesome project that I came across in the Communication Arts Design Annual. Something like an Annual Report could very easily be a boring print project, but not when Chris gets his hands on it. 

We do a deep dive into the Sarona Asset Management Annual Report but we also talk about a few other really unique reports that Chris has worked on. Including one for a suicide prevention hotline that has a really unique idea to help people visualize what the piece was all about. 

THE LINKS:

Sarona Asset Management Annual Report: CLICK HERE

Suicide Prevention Hotline Annual Report: CLICK HERE

Ideas by Duchaine Website: CLICK HERE

Ideas by Duchaine Instagram: CLICK HERE

Print Design Academy YouTube: CLICK HERE

Free Download "Print Ready File Checklist" - CLICK HERE

This week we are talking about Craft Beer Labels, but with a solid design system! My Guest on this episode is Holly Gallacher from Daughter Creative out of Calgary Alberta. 

The project that we are doing a deep dive into is the beer labels for Annex Ale. Another great project that I came across in the Communication Arts Design Annual. 

We break down the idea and planning behind this beer label design system and how the team at Daughter landed on the look for these labels. 

We also talk about a cool print project that Holly was recently surprised by and it was a massive undertaking!

THE LINKS:

Daughter Creative - CLICK HERE

Daughter Creative Instagram - CLICK HERE

Annex Ale Project - CLICK HERE

Print Design Academy YouTube - CLICK HERE

FREE Download "Print Ready File Checklist" - CLICK HERE

This week we are diving into an incredible annual report design. My guest is Rob Duncan from Mucho Design.

I came across this Annual Report in a recent issue of Communication Arts Annual highlighting incredible design work from around the world, and it's no surprise because the design is beautiful. It is very typographically pleasing and is a great example of what you can do with just..one...color!

Rob also shares many stories from his career so far including a great one about a rejection letter from Disney. Check out more great work from Mucho on their IG @wearemucho 

THE LINKS:

Mucho Design - CLICK HERE

Mucho Design Instagram - CLICK HERE

UC Annual Report Project - CLICK HERE

Print Design Academy YouTube - CLICK HERE

FREE Download "Print Ready File Checklist" - CLICK HERE

This week we are diving into an amazing Annual Report! My guest for this episode is Jason Mannix from Polygraph out of Washington DC. Jason is one of the first guests that I contacted who was recognized for their great design work in a recent issue of Communication Arts Design Annual.

The project that Polygraph was recognized for was the Smithsonian Annual Report. With an Institute like the Smithsonian with so much history and knowledge, how do you select what you showcase or highlight? Jason shares that with us in this episode.

We also talk about another great print project for the Paper and Packaging Board where they use paper and packaging to talk about the Paper and Packaging board...very meta right? @polygraphcreative @sappinorthamerica 

Project Print Specs:

74 Pages + Covers
8.75" x 12.375"

Cover 
100# Sappi McCoy Silk Cover
4/4 CMYK
Blind Emboss + Spot Varnish

Frontmatter Pages
100# Sappi McCoy Silk Text
4/4 CMYK

Backmatter Pages
100# Uncoated Text
4/4 CMYK

THE LINKS:

Polygraph Design Website - CLICK HERE

Polygraph Instagram - CLICK HERE

Smithsonian Annual Report - CLICK HERE

Print Design Academy YouTube - CLICK HERE

FREE Download "File Export Checklist" - CLICK HERE