Biba

Most people will be familiar with the name Biba. Starting as a mail order company in the early sixties and becoming a global fashion phenomenon by the early seventies, Biba became one of the great symbols of swinging London. Biba closed its doors in 1975 but was relaunched in September 2010 (exclusively at House of Fraser).

A lookbook for the re-launch was designed and produced by London based creative agency, Exposure.

The size of the book is 235x170mm, portrait, perfect bound. The 4pp cover is on Notturno 300gsm (a black board) and is hot foil blocked in gold on the outside cover. The 52pp test is printed on our Omnia 200gsm which, although quite heavy for text, really works because of the gilt (gold) edge which runs around the page edges (if you click on the image, you should be able to see the edge).

...and as you can see from the spreads below, the Omnia has worked amazingly well with the solid black and images:

Art Director on the project was Simon Boniface. The photography is by Leandro Farina.

Print and print production including the superb foiling and gilt edging was by Chapter Press.
It is quite simply, one of those jobs that you look at and go WOW!
http://www.mybiba.com/
www.exposure.net
http://www.leandrofarinastudio.blogspot.com/
www.chapterpress.co.uk

Posted by Justin Hobson 14.10.2011

Fabergé Promotional cards

This is a pair of promotional cards to accompany the Fabergé Horlogerie book (see post 30.09.2011). Produced in two sizes 190mm square and 142x175mm, printed on our Colorset Ash 270gsm. The images are just printed in one colour (black) offset litho, with a hot foil blocked Fabergé logo, in gunmetal on the outside. Simple and lovely.

 Design is anonymous. Print is by Push.

...and thanks to Justin at Push for the file copies and his note, complete with an artful rendition of the Fenner Paper Logo:

http://www.faberge.com/
http://www.push-print.com/

Posted by Justin Hobson 12.10.2011

Rapha

Here is yet another superb piece of literature produced by Rapha, the specialist cyclewear brand (see previous posts).

The amazing photography is again by Ben Ingham, the style of which is now defining the Rapha printed literature (and online). Below shows front and back covers:



This publication was produced for the German market and was used as a "loose insert" in a magazine which is the reason for it being slightly more conventional than the previous pieces. It is A5 (210x148mm) portrait, saddle stitched and is a 16pp self cover format printed on our Marazion Ultra 170gsm.

Art direction and design is by Ultan Coyle working for Rapha. Repro, print and finishing is by Orchid Print.

http://www.rapha.cc/
http://www.beningham.net/
http://www.orchidprint.com/

Posted by Justin Hobson 10.10.2011



Work Experience 2011

This week, we had the pleasure of having a pupil from one of our local schools (St Gregory's in Tunbridge Wells) for a few days of work experience.

Harry, pictured above, was able to see the workings of a paper merchant in action, spending some time in our warehouse (wrapping paper!) and in the sample room. I also took him out to visit a printer, Fulmar Colour in Croydon. It was a particularly worthwhile visit as the Croydon site, not only boasts printing, but foiling, die-making, lamination and finishing. It was very kind of Martin Stacey (above) at Fulmar to have taken the time to show us around.

 After the tour of Fulmar, we visited GBH's lovely offices in Chiswick, so he could see what a graphic design company does and thank you very much to Bethan for the time that she spent with us.

...and then back to our warehouse, where he helped wrap mountains of paper having been instructed by two former St Greg's pupils (or Old Gregorians as they are known) Chris Vallis and Neil Fenner!

http://www.sgschool.org.uk/

http://www.fulmarcolour.com/

http://www.gregorybonnerhale.com/

Posted by Justin Hobson 07.10.2011

Brunswick Review - Issue Four

This is the latest edition of The Brunswick Review, a piece of literature produced by the global Corporate Relations and Communications company Brunswick. This publication is produced for circulation to clients of the fifteen Brunswick offices throughout the world. Guest contributors include senior people at Diageo, Goldman Sachs and Reuters combined with Kevin Spacey and Mark Twain (well actually, that particular article is a reproduction!)

The original concept and design style for the Brunswick Review was by Kirsten Johnston at Johnston Works (see previous post  http://justinsamazingworldatfennerpaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/brunswick-review.html) but it is now designed in house by MerchantCantos, a Brunswick Group company.

The size of the publication is 280x216mm. It is has a 4pp cover and 86pp text. It is printed on Redeem 100% Recycled 240gsm and 100gsm. Print is by Fulmar Colour.

At a time when many companies are cutting down on print as a means of customer communication, it's impressive and refreshing to see one of the world's largest corporate relations companies printing this excellent publication - it might be worth reminding some clients that PRINT ...WORKS (if it's well designed and produced on the right papers, of course!)

Thanks to Russell Thompson for sending me file copies and a lovely note:

http://www.brunswickgroup.com/

http://www.fulmarcolour.com/

Posted by Justin Hobson 06.10.2011

An ISTD trio

Here's a trio from the ISTD: A new issue of Condensed, the ISTD awards and the new ISTD Australasia page....

1. ISTD Condensed 05

This is the society's news publication, which is a simply (but beautifully) produced piece which is sent to all members. 



Printed in 1 colour, offset litho on StarFine White, 100gsm. Design is by Peter Dawson at Grade (www.gradedesign.com) and David Quay. Typeface used is Foundry Sans. Printed by Gavin Martin.

2. ISTD International Typographic Awards 2011

The awards ceremony is being held at the Museum of Brands and Packaging on Friday 14 October, where the winners will be announced and the awards presented.

The Museum of Brands and Packaging is in Notting Hill (W11) and the collection is being kept open for the duration of the awards - which is an added bonus!

If you would like to go, you can - you don't have to be a member.
Ticket price £35 non-members, £25 ISTD members.

Drinks and canapés will be served.
http://payments.istd.org.uk/awards-ceremony-2011

3. ISTD Australasia launches facebook page
In keeping with the society's international outlook and the increasing member activity in the region,  they have launched a facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ISTD-Australasia/206895479331171
...and that's it! I don't think I've ever written about three things on one post before.
http://www.istd.org.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 04.10.2011

Jobs from the past - Number 24

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...

Type Museum for Typecon New York - 2005

The Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA) holds regular conferences and in 2005 it was held in New York. The TypeMuseum, based in London produced this lovely piece of literature as a "leave behind" to promote the Museum and to make people aware of it's existence.

The piece is an A2 flat size (420x597mm) which folds down to A5 (210x148mm) finished size. The type has been printed in reverse our Offenbach Bible 40gsm, so you read it (the correct way round) - through the paper.

Folded to A5:

The piece is hot foil blocked in a copper foil which is stamped as a positive (the correct way round!) on the front cover:

...a New York skyline in type:

and this is reading it the correct way round (photographed against the light):

Design is by Tom Green and Kieran O'Connor. They both became involved with the project because they had been at the Museum lending a hand in practical ways, such as painting walls. This piece was very much a labour of love to help the preserve the Museum. As Tom said to me recently about this project, because of the budget, it had to be dead simple and cheap and because of the event, it "had to be covetable for type geeks" ...and it certainly is.

The job was printed by Reg Davis at Pica Press based in Tonbridge in Kent but he has since retired and the company no longer exists.

Tom Green is now a senior designer at Burgess Studio and Kieran O'Connor combines lecturing at Kingston University with his role at BOB Design.

Rather sadly the Type Museum appears to be effectively closed for business at present, although the website is still up: www.typemuseum.org
http://www.typecon.com/
www.bobdesign.co.uk
www.burgess-studio.co.uk

Posted by Justin Hobson 03.10.2011