This is the latest brochure for tableware designers and producers Robert Welch Designs.

I wrote about the company and some of their literature on a post last year:
http://justinsamazingworldatfennerpaper.blogspot.com/2011/09/robert-welch.html

This brochure is a 32pp self cover, saddle stitched. Size is 297x155mm, printed on our Marazion Ultra 135gsm. The cover is varnished with a gloss UV varnish. It is printed CMYK throughout plus a pantone silver - which given the flat mattnes of the paper works beautifully well, while all the metallic tabelware reproduces exceptionally in four colour process...

Design is by Dowling Duncan. Art direction and design was by John Dowling who works closely with Alice and Rupert Welch. Photography is by Trevor Innes and Tony Muranka. Print is by Gavin Martin Colournet

 

http://www.robertwelch.com/

http://dowlingduncan.com/

www.gavinmartin.co.uk

Posted by Justin Hobson 26.01.2012

Jobs from the past - Number 21

Regular followers of this blog will know that my first post of every month is a "job from the past" so that I can show some of the really good work from years gone by...

University of Lincoln Annual Review 2004-2005

The brief for this annual review included the words: crafted, established and tradition. The University of Lincoln was less than ten years old at this time, yet situated in beautiful, ancient Cathedral City that could rival Oxford and Cambridge for both it's heritage and ecclesiastical connections.

This annual report was designed to emphasise the modern and attractive campus at Brayford Pool within the context of an established  and crafted piece of literature.

Size of the document is 240x235mm (just slightly landscape) and is 3 hole sewn with black thread. It has an 8pp cover and a 24pp text.

As you can see, it is based around the beautifully commissioned photography. It is printed in Duotone (black/grey) throughout which have a rich feel and depth to them and work well with the natural/off white material. The cover was printed on Modigliani, Bianco 260gsm which has a traditional "watercolour" type feel to it and the text is on Optimale Blanc Naturel 140gsm.

Art direction and design was by John Dowling. The superb photography is by Andy Weekes (http://www.andyweekes.net/). Print was by Gavin Martin - they deserve credit for the excellent duotone reproduction and well finished three hole sewing.

www.lincoln.ac.uk

www.dowlingduncan.com

http://www.andyweekes.net/

www.gavinmartin.co.uk

Posted by Justin Hobson 04.07.2011

Dowling Duncan

Dowling|Duncan are anything but a conventional design company. The company was born out of the desire of two former work colleagues wishing to work together and the result is a pooling of resources by the two principals, John Dowling and Rob Duncan on either sides of the Atlantic.

The literature below is their first piece of promotional print in what has been a momentous year for the two D's. Not only have they celebrated their first year, but they have also opened a New York office in the Chrysler building. They now have offices in San Francisco, New York and Newark (UK).

The below piece is a simple 12pp folded affair in which the 8pp concertina folds into the last 4pp forming the cover. Size is 155mm x 220mm.

One side is almost entirely image based (pics above) while the other side is mailnly in black, demonstrating the marks and identities that they have completed (pic below)

The job is printed on our Omnia 200gsm which works just perfectly as the creasing and small (3mm) spine which enable the concertina to sit squarely in the cover is just right. Printing is offset litho in four colours and the printer is Gavin Martin. It was printed before they opened the New York office, so here's hoping for a re-print!

...and thanks to John and Rob for their note

http://dowlingduncan.com/

www.gavinmartin.co.uk

April Fools...

As usual, there were some great April Fool's day gags around this year. John Dowling of Dowling Duncan forwarded the below spoof Creative Review article claiming that the use of non approved typefaces would be subject to a government charge in order to reduce the budget deficit.  It's a great piece of work and I particularly like the line "most of the regeneration of Shoreditch is built on the use of Helvetica"!

...and thanks to all those who wished me well on my invitation for the Royal Wedding, especially Pali at Johnson Banks who was first to spot it. I take my hat off to you all!

Posted by Justin Hobson 04.04.2011

Forever Manchester

I just saw an article that there's to be an exhibition and sale of limited edition posters from prolific illustrator Si Scott at the Tarif Street Gallery in Manchester with proceeds going to local charitable community foundation Forever Manchester. The exhibition runs for two weeks and comprises series of 11 posters. Each uses as its focus lyrics from Manchester bands including The Buzzcocks, Elbow, Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Fall, The Doves and Joy Division. The unique typeface used in the pieces has been specially created by Si for the posters. Prices start from £100 with proceeds going to Forever Manchester.

Now I first met Si Scott way back in 2002 when he and Zoë Bather had just graduated. I didn't know them and they didn't know each other but they had individually won a D&AD competition to design the next issue of D&AD Ampersand magazine. The publication was then designed at Frost in London and Si and Zoë were literally thrown together for two weeks working with senior designer John Dowling at the Frost studio.

Well obviously things have moved a long way on from then! Si Scott is now ranked as one of the top 200 illustrators in the world. Zoë Bather worked at Frost in London with Matt Willey, they then established Studio8 which celebrates it's 5th anniversary this very week! ...so congratulations all round!

http://www.forevermanchester.com/

http://www.siscottstudio.com/
http://www.dowlingduncan.com/
http://www.studio8design.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 29.11.2010

Lincolnshire links with San Francisco!

Just had some very exciting news… Dowling Design and Art Direction (based in Newark) and Rob Duncan Design (based in San Francisco) have joined forces to become Dowling Duncan.

John and Rob, who both previously worked at Pentagram amongst other design companies, before setting up their own consultancies. Now they have joined forces which is an exciting move for both individuals.

I have written about John before (see other post on this blog) who also lectures part-time at Lincoln Uni. Good luck and best wishes to the all new Dowling Duncan.

http://www.dowlingduncan.com/

Posted by Justin Hobson