Illustrated type in a commercial environment

I have decided to start documenting every piece of commercially applied illustrated type that I see when out and about by photographing it on my phone.

Pop up shop 2012

I have framed some of my prints to sell for the pop up shop. 

Waterstones

I went on a little research visit to Waterstones in order to establish what kind of printed in-store promotion I should/could design as part of my Penguin book cover design brief.

The areas of promotional display that I have defined are :

Main large window display, approx. 2m x 2m (?)

Inside window banner approx. 297mm x 1000mm

Another banner of similar size :

Long thin banner accross top of book shelf

Approx. 105mm x 600mm

A3 size promo board for freestanding table display

A3 size promo board to accompany table of different books

Another long thing banner against wall as well as A3 freestanding board to show off the 'book of the month'

Large promo space in stair well - used for Waterstones branding.

More long thin banners in frames around the premisses.

I really like this illustrated type as part of the current Waterstones brand identity :

Old cover

This is an old cover for One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. I really love the style of the type.

David Shrigley - Brain Activity

While on my placement I took a trip to the Hayward gallery art the Southbank centre to see the David Shrigley exhibition. He is one of my favourite illustrators and it was really interesting to see the breadth of work that he has and the variety of different mediums that he works in.

I found it interesting how all his work is clearly his even through different mediums. This has inspired me to be more experimental with the processes and mediums that I use to create my illustrated type.

Tiny sculpture :

Cast iron sculptures and jewellery :

Thank you card for Jelly

I made a thank you card for Jelly for having me on my placement.

I hand drew the type in a freehand style and then tried it out in a hand drawn style.

I found a tutorial to make text look like Jelly...

I made an envelope also in the brand colours of the company.

Visit to Pressision printers in Leeds

Yesterday Ailsa, Amy, Robyn, Sai and I went to visit Pressision printers in Leeds. It was a fantastic trip as they were so friendly and accommodating and allowed us to ask so many questions both general and specific to our individual projects. I feel like second time around (following the Team print visit last year) I really understand the processes, and perhaps more importantly, the costing.

Photos from the trip :

• First off we saw how the plates are set up using the artwork provided by the designer.
• A proof is printed, and then this is the last time any alterations can be made before the plates are made.
• Plates are created using laser drums that essentially cook the designs on.
• A scratch on the plate will affect the design when printed.
• Best files are made in indesign with 3mm standard bleed, sent as pdf.
• Generally don't need to paginate a multi page document as most printers will do this for you. 
• Publications should be sent as SINGLE page spreads.
• Types of printing: 'Working tumble' - (double sided) & 'Sheet work'
• 170gsm average thickness for a leaflet
• Always ask printer for their professional opinion
• CMYK plates cost around £20 each for the designer/client
• Ink costs the printer only £10 a tub (cmyk) and £15 for a metalic
• Pantone - 'C' = coated. 'U' = uncoated
• Their litho printers are 6 colour (allows for two spot colours with 4 cmyk)
• if designer wanted more than 2 spot colours, their would be added costs factored in for cleaning the plates.
• is cheaper to use one spot colour than cmyk, but not cheaper to use two spot colours instead of cmyk.
• FSC/PEFC - Forestry stewardship councils - v. strict. (Designer can't even have access to the logo- printer has to apply it once the stock has been verified)
• Duplexing - can do it but they get it done by the paper manufacturers as it's cheaper
• Thermography : they dont do it - outsource it - where a layer is printed which is then passed through heat making it expand - you can tell because it is slightly rough to the feel. 
• Below is a business card that they have foil blocked on both sides. The black text has been thermographically printed (outsourced).

• Thermography is an alternative to foiling as it gives a different finish - foiling impresses slightly, while thermographic printing is raised slightly.
• I have been researching into how I could achieve metalic/foiled effects for the stationary for my Kit Cat's brief, that would also allow it to be run through a laser printer, as I understand from my research that this can affect the inks and they can melt.
• One of the printers explained to me that it is now possible to get 'Laser compatible foil' which is printer friendly - on request from the printer.
• We looked at some letterpress examples and the press itself. Below is an example of some letter press that they have been doing for a wedding invitation :

• Letter press more expensive - e.g. this invite and rsvp card cost £420 for the plates - two colours, four sides in total.
• Plates can be ordered from Hallmark, or Premier Legue Graphics (locally) which is cheaper  and faster turn around than Hallmark. 
• The cheaper plates are made using acid bath.
• Best paper companies in their opinion - Fedrigoni and GF Smith.
• sample books called 'paper colour selector'
• Colourplan v.nice colours
• Most of the standard stocks they use - silk stocks etc - from R&B on Armley Road as its a good price.
• Printers tend to order stock as its a better deal cost wise.
• Folding machine - up to 24 pages can be folded in one run
• They don't do colour reging as they only get asked to do it once or twice a year and its too expensive.
• Exciting paper - GF smith 'Tapestry' - has a floral pattern laminated onto it (looks like wallpaper)
• Pressision are able to print car raps, wallpaper and canvas as well as regular stocks.
• Digital printer - can print basically on any stock -  much cheaper.
• 1000 A3 size maximum run on digital
• 250 business cards would cost around £50
• Freebies - including a piece of Fedrigoni pink pearlescent stock