Letterpress in the Time of Covid

On Monday 12th July you can hear eight speakers share their experiences since the pandemic took told of the world in 2020. They will share what challenges they may have faced, how they have adapted to the way they work – or not – under lockdown, how creative they have felt in this time and what the pandemic and changing world around them has inspired them to produce. From group exhibitions and collaborations to printing daily reflections on the pandemic, this event celebrates the good that has come out of these troubled times.

Speakers include Ane Thon Knutsen, Ben Blount, Naomi Kent, Michelle Yu, New North Press, Peter Gibbons, and more to be announced shortly.

It's Online via Zoom and tickets are a bargain: £3–5

You can book HERE 

Posted by Justin Hobson 10.06.2021

Hotel Astoria - St Petersburg

An illustrious St. Petersburg landmark, the grand Hotel Astoria sits

directly across from St Isaac’s Cathedral, a short walk from leading attractions such as Nevsky Prospect, Palace Square and the Mariinsky Theatre. Since opening in 1912, this elegant Art Nouveau hotel has hosted eminent guests, from dancer Isadora Duncan to poet Sergei Yesenin.

This the brochure for the hotel, which follows the new brand identity for Rocco Forte Hotels, created by Pentagram.

Size of the brochure is 266 x 204mm, portrait and is saddle stitched. The cover is an unusual format as there is an 8pp cover with 140mm wide flaps and there is an outer jacket, only 210mm high, also with 140mm flaps. It is the first time I've seen this combination and the effect is superb...

The materials used for the covers is our Dali range, which is a 'felt-marked' paper with a linear effect and a natural, tactile feel. If you click on the image below, you will be able to see the texture in the paper.

The cover is on Dali Nero 200gsm and is hot foil blocked in matt white and copper foil. The jacket is printed on Dali, Candido, 160gsm and is litho printed in CMYK on one side only.

Above is a birdseye view. Below shows inside front spread...

Click on images to enlarge

The 16pp text is printed offset litho on our Marazion Ultra 135gsm, chosen because of it's dead matt flatness which would reproduce the interior images well without a glossiness which would detract from the classic look and feel of the hotel.

Click on images to enlarge

The brochure has a beautiful, quality feel and flows in the hand superbly. The combination of photography, materials and quality print makes this a wonderful piece of print.

Design is by Pentagram. The excellent print, repro and finishing is by Gavin Martin Colournet, based in East London. 

https://www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/hotel-astoria/

https://www.pentagram.com/ 

https://www.gavinmartincolournet.co.uk/ 

Posted by Justin Hobson 08.06.2021

World Environment Day

Today is World Environment Day. This event is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Since it began in 1974, the event has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries. Above all, World Environment Day is the "people's day" for doing something to take care of the Earth. That "something" can be local, national or global. It can be a solo action or involve a crowd.

What better day for me to show the wide range of recycled and environmentally friendly papers in our range...

If you'd like to have an intro to the range or just have a chat about recycled papers, give me a call or drop me an email: justin@fennerpaper.co.uk

Posted by Justin Hobson 05.06.2021

UEFA Euro 2020 is now Euro 2021!

With the delayed Euro 2020 football championship fast approaching, I’m pleased to show you our fabulous wallchart...

Click on images to enlarge

Hosted by 11 countries in 11 cities, the tournament was postponed due to the pandemic but rescheduled with the opening match on June 11th. England are among the favourites to win the tournament and are playing all three matches at Wembley, which will no doubt increase the excitement surrounding the current side. 

This beautifully designed typographic wallchart is by David Coates, who also happens to be a member of the ISTD board (International Society of Typographic Designers) and my thanks to Dave for making it all happen - a perfect way to combine his love of type and football!  As you can see, it's already up on the wall in our office.

The wallcharts are printed by Zone Graphics on our lovely Pergraphica range from Mondi - Pergraphica Classic, Rough 120gsm. The size is 880 x 315mm. Typeface used is Foundry Context by The Foundry Types.

We have sent out a number of these wallcharts to our football loving design clients, but if you want to make absolutely sure you get a copy, you can email me justin@fennerpaper.co.uk

Posted by Justin Hobson 04.06.2021

Jobs from the past - Number 139

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 projects from years gone by and here's one from 2003.

D&AD Ampersand 19 - Aug/Sept 2003

It's unlikely that D&AD needs much introduction. - Founded in London in 1962 as British Design & Art Direction by a group of creatives and art directors, it has since become a world renowned body championing design and creativity. Back in 2003, Michael Johnson was president and then, as now, the President's Lectures were a popular draw for creatives. The awards were held at Earls Court (designed by Four IV) and it was a wonderful evening - I should know, I was there!

Ampersand was the newsletter for D&AD, which was mailed out to members. I wrote about the original newsletters HERE.

Click on images to enlarge

Size of the publication is 495x345mm portrait and is a 20pp 'self cover' and is unbound. It has a wonderfully floppy and tabloid newspaper feel. It is printed on our Redeem 100% Recycled 80gsm.

The paper is a neutral white shade gives the publication a 'newsy' feel which really works with the combination of images and type. Below image shows all loose text pages...

Click on images to enlarge

The publication is printed offset litho in one colour (halftone or monotone printing) and the look and feel is just perfect. A well designed and thoughtful piece of print to be delivered, spread information and disposed of - just like a newspaper!

Unfortunately I don't have a record of who printed it, but whoever it was, they made a nice job of it. (if you know, please let me know!) Apart from a bit of sun bleaching on the cover, it looks fresh and contemporary - could have been designed and printed yesterday...

Design is by Frost Design, London with Vince Frost and Matt Willey are both credited.

In fact, Ampersand 20 was even better (and a completely different format) and won a pencil in the 2004 awards!

https://www.dandad.org/

Posted by Justin Hobson 02.06.2021

New cards on a new paper!

I'm very happy to introduce this new range of age cards by the lovely Made by Shannon, which also happen to be printed on a brand new paper range!

Made by Shannon is a greeting card publisher run by Shannon and based in Surrey. This new selection of age cards are just simply, but beautifully, hot foil blocked on their own 1980's vintage foiling machines. They are C6 (148x105mm) size.

The cards are printed on our new Inclusion, Coffee 250gsm, which as you can see is a visually interesting paper...

Inclusion, Coffee is a new range which is made using 100% Recycled, post consumer waste, with the addition of 5% residues from coffee processing, the resulting effect is really unusual.

Thank you to Shannon for sending this new card and if you would like to see their range of cards and gifts, you can see them HERE.

Inclusion Coffee is available in 100, 120 and 250gsm and if you would like some samples, just drop me an email: justin@fennerpaper.co.uk

Posted by Justin Hobson 28.05.2021

TIC CC

TIC CC is a UK brand of performance cycling clothing. Created for road athletes looking to achieve extraordinary things, their products are defined by the finest technical fabrics, hours of development and testing time, and a unique ‘peloton style’ aesthetic. The brand is also passionate in their commitment to sustainability...

Make responsibly — protect the irreplaceable! As riders we see it as our duty to do all we can to reduce the harm, protect the irreplaceable and make a positive difference. We are as passionate about ‘how we make’ as we are ‘what we make’

This is the printed promotional literature for their SS21 collection, used both as a mailer and sent out together with orders. The format is a 16pp, folded concertina, as you can see here...

The finished size is 240 x 170mm, folding out to 480 x 680mm.

Click on images to enlarge

Centre spread...

The idea for their SS21 photo shoot was based around the notion of ‘where we have been and where we are heading’. "We are more aware of the fragility of the world we live in based on our recent experiences of the pandemic. But tough challenges can lead to reflection, empowerment and renewed optimism. It’s the human spirit in action. The photography captures the optimism and sense of progression for the TICCC brand. This is a positive year for us as 95% of the SS21 collection uses performance fabrics made from recycled fibres. No mean feat considering less than 10% of the worlds fibre production is made with recycled materials."

Fully extended spread...

Folding out to...

Click on images to enlarge

Be the Change - main spread

Released this April, this promo focuses on their spring/summer collection which reflects the change we all need to be. It represents their commitment to setting new industry standards for sustainability.

...and what about the paper? Well it has to be 100% recycled and our Shiro Echo, White in 100gsm was chosen, not just because it is recycled but it would handle the high density black CMYK coverage and the fluoro yellow would "pop" out!

...and it works beautifully.

Printing is by Identity Print in Paddock Wood and as I hope you can tell from the images, they have made a fantastic job. The solid black is amazing but still letting the images and the detail within them work. 

Creative direction and design is by TIC CC and Hugh Miller.

Interestingly, having spoken to the company founder, Andrew Monk, about the project, I learnt that this is their first piece of promotional print. As an online retailer, all their information is available online, but he increasingly regards print as an important way of getting their messaging and brand across, which is great news. After all, in this virtual world, there's nothing as immediate as something physical you can just pick up and read.

https://tic-cc.com/

http://www.identityprint.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 25.05.2021