Most design is cost driven, usually litho-printed and made out of standard stock. The result is usually fit for purpose and practical. So anything that veers from this 'norm ',can be more memorable and distinctive, so could be defined as diverse.
The design can be printed on a range of diverse materials, with unusual finishes such as metallic inks, holographic printing, lamination or overprinting, or using folds, so make you want to touch and interact with it.
Due to advances in manufacturing processes, effects such as embossing, de-bossing, die-cutting, stamping, moulding and etching can be achieved and mass produced.
Sustainability and the environmental costs can however restrict the extent a designer can use these effects without it being perceived as wasteful.
Printing “finishes” such as lamination and Spot UV varnishes are used to increase both the perceived value and quality of a printed item (such as a brochure, folder or data sheet) and also provide ink-protection.
Depending on the desired result and project budget, each of the print finishes has it’s own pros and cons and in any print situation the suitability of a laminate or varnish needs to be considered carefully.
Lamination is the process of using an ultra thin plastic film which can be applied to almost any paper or board and is more commonly used in gloss, silk and matt finishes. A lamination will cover the whole side or sides of a document and cannot be used to cover a specific area alone.
Lamination Pros:
- can be used to enhance the appearance of standard paper boards at relatively low cost and is generally cheaper than a spot uv varnish in most cases
- will make a paper more durable and long lasting and can actually offer some water/grease resistance
- eliminates cracking of ink on creases
- no set up costs
Lamination Cons:
- can only be used to cover a whole side of a document
- matt lamination over a dark colour will show scratches and finger prints, more so than gloss
UV (ultra violet) Varnish is a liquid coating used to ‘mask off’ any area of a design and enhance it (ie. varnishing text, logos or images whilst leaving the remainder of the page unaffected). Unlike a lamination, UV varnishes come in an array of finishes and not only include gloss and matt but also glitter and colour-flip versions as well as many others.
UV Varnish Pros:
- can be used to enhance specific areas such as text, logos or images rather than cover a whole page
- additional substances can be added to varnish to increases its versatility such as glitter
- can be used in conjunction with a laminate and printed over the top to create a more creative and diverse result
UV Varnish Cons:
- if printed over a crease in a document it will crack in the same way ink does
- if printed over text or images will be subject to ‘make ready’ die charges which increases its cost
- due to additional set up required uv varnishing is a longer process than lamination
A neutral Varnish (which is invisible to the eye) may also be used to ‘coat’ or ‘seal’ the ink and can be applied ‘online’ (the varnish is applied directly to the product on the press after the ink has been printed) or ‘offline’ which means it is applied some time after the print process. This is not the same as a Spot UV Varnish will generally cover the whole of a document to prevent ink offset.
Packaging & Promotion
Back Label Wines P 172-3 Packaging the Brand
A single colour screen printed label with reversed out lettering printed in reverse to appear backwards on the front label. This is a excess wine stock , value wine which will still appeal to wine lovers through its creative 'highend' labelling.
Gu Ice cream P 76-7 Packaging the Brand
Gu was already recognised as a luxury desert brand when it launched Gu ice cream. The original ice cream container ,made from black polystyrene not only looks stylish but is also functional as it insulates the ice cream. The whole look translates 'premium' produce.
STANLEY HONEY POT - P 72-3 Packaging the Brand
The packaging evokes sustainability as it encourages you to reuse the pot as a planter to encourage more honey be making.
Made in transit
A new system of mushroom cultivation, growing in trasit allowing the consumer to harvest. A new concept in 'freshness'
Rubber: fun, fashion, fetish
Sticky Graphics p 102
A bright orange, flexible, moulded rubber cover which demands to be touched. The ultimate visual mnemonic.
Editorial & Publication
Clear Magazine
Sticky Graphics p 104
Its transparent cover immediately distinguishes it from other publications and acts as an excellent mnemonic
Branding & Identity
Lenicular printing
The Power of tactile design p 127
Tactile, ribbed surface, encourages touch , turn back and forth for different messages
Website launch the designer Eileen Boxer wanted to represent a computer screen as closely as possible.
Design Museum Shop ID by Build
Plastic business cards
http://www.cat5iveprint.com/store/business-cards/plastic
Packaging & Promotion
Title:Nike Promotional Launch box
Client:Accept & Proceed
Materials:Greyboard, Fluctuations, HD Foam
Processes:Litho print, laminate, foil block, routing.
Title:Limited edition box
Client:Jeff Banks
Materials:Suede effect paper, ribbon, magnet, foam
Processes:Die cut, foil block, magentic closure
Promotional box
Wallpaper
Materials:Board
Processes:Litho print, emboss, score, glue
Polypropylene carrier bag
Aura/Dalziel & Pow
Materials:500 Micron Polyprop sheet
Processes:Litho print, score and fold, heat weld
Product display cover
Design Project
Materials:Frosted EVA polypropylene, label, eyelet
Processes:Screen print, white stitch
MDF, oak veneer, steel
Veneer, varnish, laser etch, screen print, hand assemble
Metal effect slipcase
Bulletproof Design
Touch PVC, promolyte
Emboss, screen print, etch, weld, rivet
Gel filled CD sleeve
Ocean Colour Scene
Materials:PVC, gel
Processes:Screen print, gel fill, weld
Promotion (And Branding?)
A traditional billboard with a 3 d twist
Nike Speed-Billboard - A giant billboard/installation in the heart of Brussels, depicting the athlete Joshua J. Johnson bursting from the hoarding.
Client-Weiden+Kennedy (Amsterdam). Year-2004
Client-Weiden+Kennedy (Amsterdam). Year-2004
Sagmeister Inc. Lisbon Experimenta billboard
Using newspaper print they exposed the paper to sun with a giant stencil so that after one week the typography spelled out the message 'complaining is silly. Either act or forget.'
Information & Wayfinding
Using a variety of materials other than paper and card
