Boxes in Boxes

The nature of this blog means that most of the projects I write about are either on paper supplied by Fenner Paper and more often than not, because I've had some personal involvement in the project. However, sometimes a piece of print comes along (where I have had no involvement) that is so utterly worthy of note that I feel it needs bringing to your attention and this is one of those pieces!

This is actually quite a high profile piece of work having won a yellow pencil at D&AD this April, so you may have seen it before but for those of you who haven't read on...

Firstly I'll explain the background. Boss Print are a printer based in Acton, west London, who's work has appeared on this blog many times before. Over the years when they had put out box-making to various 'trade' box-makers, they had been frustrated with the quality of the boxes they had received back and however hard they managed the project there was always some dissatisfaction with the quality of the end result. Just to clarify, we are talking about 'paper over board' rigid boxes here. Consequently, last year they invested in their own equipment, staff and  (most important of all) staff training so that they could make their own boxes 'in-house'. They started to make beautiful boxes (and they really are the most amazing quality) but were faced with the problem of letting their existing and new customers know about this new service ...enter Studio Sutherl&!

Jim Sutherland has worked with Boss for many years and having seen the amazing quality of the boxes created this superb demonstration piece using the words "There was an old lady that swallowed a fly" - from a well known cumulative children's song and working the story into the "Russian doll" type set of boxes.

To give you an idea of scale, the size of the first box (which is a lid pictured above) is 208(h) x 178(w) x 83(d)mm. The lid comes off to reveal what is described as a 'flush finish box'.

The 'flush finish box', (in white) which has a magnetic flap, opens to reveal a 'clamshell' box (in sand colour)

Click on images to enlarge

The clamshell box opens to reveal a 'flush finish lid/tray box'

 ...just look at the superb finish on these boxes - an amazing snug fit and beautifully turned edges and corners. This is real craftsmanship. 

The Flush finish box opens to reveal an 'overlap lid/tray box' (pale blue)

As you can see the hot foil blocking appears on the top, sides and even insides of the boxes.  

 

Inside the overlap box is a 'matchbox' (yellow)

Opening like so... 

Inside the matchbox (which has a red liner) is a slipcase (grey)

...and inside the slipcase is a little casebound book.  

The book gives the lyrics of the whole story/poem/song written by Alan Mills with lyrics by Rose Bonne in 1952. It also lists all the styles of boxes and all the credits for those involved, including all the paper, which was supplied by Fedrigoni.

Design is by Studio Sutherl&. Creative director is Jim Sutherland and the designer on the project is Alice Tosey.

It really isn't easy to try and convey the quality of manufacture of these boxes. Everything fits superbly and there isn't a ripple or a bowing of the board to be seen on any of these boxes. The two images below, I hope will demonstrate the super tight tolerances that the boxes are made to:

This is the whole set of boxes sitting together...

You can read more about the project and see much better images that I can take on the following link:

http://studio-sutherland.co.uk/projects/boxes-in-boxes

It most deservedly won a yellow pencil at this years D&AD awards and was shortlisted in two categories of the DesignWeek Awards, winning the award for Print Communications.

...and I'm sure if you have a project, where you are looking for a beautiful bespoke rigid box, Boss print would be more than happy to hear from you! ...just email Bonnie Lo (bonnie@bossprint.com) at Boss and I'm sure she will be pleased to help.

https://www.bossprint.com/
http://studio-sutherland.co.uk/
http://www.fedrigoni.com/en/

Posted by Justin Hobson on 26.08.2016

Universal Works S|S 2017

Universal Works produce contemporary menswear. From their beginnings working from a kitchen table in 2008, their clothing has a following and is now stocked from Los Angeles to Seoul, with three of their own shops in London and Nottingham.

I've written many posts on this blog which includes the phrase "...just the cover makes the difference!" ...and this is one of those pieces of work. The whole job is superb but the cover is really stunning.

Size of the book is 297x210mm (A4) portrait. The cover is printed offset Litho in one colour (black) on our Colorset Bright Red 270gsm (100% Recycled). The book is completely unbound, just relying on the fold on the spine holding it all together - some people see this as a brave move and designers often feel their clients won't go for it, but on some projects (such as this) it just works....

Click on picture to enlarge

Another really interesting facet of this job is the use of our Offenbach Bible 60gsm as a completely unprinted flysheet. It beautifully layers the text and conveys an understated quality - not over the top , just a nice little addition which, being unprinted, is also particularly economical!

 

If you click on the image above, you'll be able to clearly see the Universal works logo showing through.

 

The unbound 24pp text is printed offset litho in CMYK on PhoeniXmotion Xantur 115gsm and because it is unbound, it can be mixed up, used individually and even stuck on the wall.

The below image shows the way Offenbach Bible works on the inside back cover

Outside back cover....

Design is by Nottingham based Waste Studio.  Print is by Pureprint with Rob Squires handling the project.

 

https://www.universalworks.co.uk/

http://www.wastestudio.com/

www.pureprint.com

Posted by Justin Hobson 23.08.2016

Jimmy Choo - Bridal 2016

Founded in 1996, Jimmy Choo is now an iconic luxury fashion brand defined by an empowered sense of glamour and a confident sense of style. This is the beautiful new brochure for the 2016 bridal range....

The size is 210x148mm (A5) portrait and is saddle stitched. The publication has a 4pp cover with a 16pp text.

The 4pp cover is printed on our Omnia 280gsm. The cover is printed CMYK on the outside cover and is unprinted on the inside covers. The front cover is embossed where the Jimmy Choo brandmark appears - unfortunately my photographic skills (and equipment!) mean I can't capture this, however the image below shows the embossing as it appears on the inside front cover. Omnia is a very bulky sheet, so it embosses superbly, taking a deep embossing superbly.

The 16pp text is also printed on our Omnia in 120gsm. The weights are just right, 280gsm and 120gsm combination opening nicely with the pages turning well.

Click on images to enlarge

It is printed offset litho in four colour process throughout. As always (...this is the plug for the paper!) the images look superb on the Omnia; the fleshtones and the reproduction of the voile, jewels and metallic images is great - keeping all the detail in those heavy areas of CMYK together with uncoated paper tactility which would be lost on other papers.

...below is a small detail from the spread above - superb reproduction.

Another piece of nice detailing is the use of copper wire on the saddle stitching - just a lovely touch -not a high cost extra, but demonstrates great attention to detail.

Art direction and design is by the design studio at Jimmy Choo and the designer on the project is Sinnie Chong. The peerless print and print production is by Gavin Martin Colournet.

http://www.jimmychoo.com/en/bridal-boutique/bridal-collections/bride/

http://www.jimmychoo.com/

http://www.gavinmartincolournet.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 19.08.2016

Big Book Bonanza Catalogue 2016

The Big Book Bonanza is the showcase of new books from Harper Collins and this is the 2016 catalogue. I wrote about the  bewitching invitation for the launch at the Ham Yard Hotel here.

The catalogue is 148x265mm, Landscape and is saddle stitched.

Click on images to enlarge

The catalogue has a 4pp cover with a 56pp text, all printed on Colorset Natural 350gsm (cover) and 120gsm (text) printed offset litho in CMYK throughout.

The illustrations commissioned for the catalogue reproduce superbly on the Colorset Natural and is bright and vivid, the colours really lifting off the page.

Bearing in mind this job is printed on Colorset Natural, which is our 100% recycled coloured paper range which doesn't have any particular surface enhancements for printing, the areas of solid CMYK black look amazing:

The 4pp cover is blind embossed, where the text and filigree for the "garden gate", which is where on the invitation, the same area was lasercut - unfortunately this isn't something that you can photograph!

Colorset is a bulky paper, so with a 56pp text, this is about as much as you can really use with a saddle stitched binding. It works, but if it were any more pages, it would be too "gappy" in the centre.

Art direction and design is by London based studio, Design by St. Creative Partners are Steve Fenn and Tom Pollard. The excellent print and production is by Hampshire based Senator Press.

www.harpercollins.co.uk

http://www.designbyst.com/

Posted by Justin Hobson 16.08.2016

Ace Sandbanks brochure

Situated on the illustrious Sandbanks peninsula, ACE is a collection of nine three- and four-bedroom apartments offering views across Poole Harbour and out to sea. With a curved, panelled façade and light spaces, the landmark building has been inspired by the area’s yachting heritage. The open-plan apartments have spacious living areas with floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies that take advantage of the far-reaching coastal views.

This is the absolutely fabulous sales literature produced for the development which is completing this month. Size of the brochure is A3 (420x297mm) portrait and is a 36pp 'self cover' on Omnia 120gsm and is saddle stitched.

Click on images to enlarge

The apartments at ACE benefit from a private gym, pool, jacuzzi, sauna and private outdoor terrace, whilst also having direct access onto Sandbanks beach. It was important that the images showing the exteriors, interiors, beach shots etc. all reproduced superbly, while still having a tactile uncoated look and feel - and this is where Omnia has really performed...

The mono image with a blue cast looks amazing

The quality of reproduction of the interiors is wonderfully impressive with metallic fittings looking metallic and a photographic quality to the images.

Click on images to enlarge

Floorplans have a tint (made out of all four colours) which is even and matt, allowing the reversed out white areas to "jump out".

The large A3 format size with the 120gsm Omnia and the saddle stitched binding make the whole property brochure 'flop' in a beautiful way. The pages turn easily and it flows superbly in the hand, as I hope the image below demonstrates:

Another point worthy of note is the logo on the front cover is gloss UV varnished. Unlike most uncoated products, you can successfully gloss UV varnish on this paper (with a single hit) and it works really well - as you can see in the below pic...

Art direction and design is by London based branding agency Smith Dawson. Print and print production is by Push Print based in London. Printed offset litho in four colour process.

http://www.acesandbanks.co.uk/#home

http://www.smith-dawson.com/

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

Posted by Justin Hobson 11.08.2016