2012

Have you ever been at a dinner party or gathering and a friend starts talking about how bad paper is for the environment? Maybe you’ve heard loads of facts about the good things the paper and print industry have done in the past 20 years but can’t remember or articulate the points correctly? Well, take a look at Two Sides Australia, an organisation committed to promoting the responsible production and use of print and paper. They work to correct common environmental misconceptions by providing users with verifiable (and easy to understand) information on why print and paper is an attractive, practical and sustainable communications medium.

The new A5 booklet will be coming to your print or design company soon. It gives you the opportunity to improve your ability to dispel the myths by dealing with the facts. We have found it to be a really handy tool. For way too long now, our industry has not defended paper as a sustainable product. Perhaps we haven’t had the words to promote it or the confidence in our message. But now more than ever, we need to protect and stand up for our industry and livelihood. Two Sides Australia, hopefully, makes it that little bit easier. Please visit their website if you’d like to more information and to keep up-to-date with news from the world of print and paper.

Title: Nichole and Ben’s Wedding Invitations
Agency: 22% More Chicken
Stocks: Kaskad / Knight – Smooth / Rives Tradition / Tablex
Printed by: 22% More Chicken

Once upon a time, not that long ago, two talented designers met, fell in love, created some fabulous wedding invitations and shared their wonderful story with us. So, now we’re sharing it with you!

Ben and Nichole Allder, both designers of 22% More Chicken (best business name ever!), were married in April 2011. As soon as we saw their charming wedding stationery come across our desk, we fell in love with it. With over 12 years of graphic design experience in Melbourne and London it didn’t take long to design their invitations (wouldn’t we all love that talent?!). Nichole explains: “Being a couple makes working together easy, we understand where each others strength lies. We work like playing tennis, where one passes it to the other and then back again until we’re both happy.”

Using a combination of different paper grades allowed the couple to mix and match colours and finishes. Nichole and Ben both wanted a thick stock for the invitation card, so they hose Knight Smooth – White 350gsm. They found that it had a real ´paper´ feel to it, with just enough texture and a bright white shade that really popped against the colours. They also wanted some bright colour, but not necessarily primary hues. Leafbird Green 270gsm from our Kaskad range of papers and Pink 250gsm from Tablex complemented each other perfectly for the destination maps. A few other pastels from each range were used for booklets, water bottle tags and place settings.

For years, Nichole and Ben had been printing with a Japanese gocco machine. But with such fine detail in their stationery, they decided to splurge by purchasing a two colour jig and silk screened the invitations, map, reply card with belly band and thank yous. Nichole explained to us that it took a whole weekend to print and dry, cut out all 150 invitations, map and thank you cards by hand, plus the added detail of the crinkle cut belly band and envelopes. Phew!

For all those soon-to-be-bride’s out there, all that hard work is totally worth it in the end. Nichole agrees: “We were really happy with the result, the paper was so lovely to print on, really smooth and held the inks so well. Screen printing is such a  lovely process to use; the slight variation in print makes each piece unique. We had a bit of trouble getting replies back as no one wanted to give up their reply cards!” I think we’d all agree that this story definitely has a very, happy, ending.

Title: Flinders Hotel collateral
Agency: Seesaw Design (VIC)
Client: Flinders Hotel
Stocks: Buffalo Board / Knight – Vellum
Printed by: Southern Colour (VIC); Avon Graphics – emboss (VIC); Cut it Out – bamboo sheet menu boards (VIC); Payless Promotions – silicon bands.

When we saw the Flinders Hotel collateral designed by Seesaw in Melbourne, we knew there was a special story behind it. Seriously – look at those collages!! The pictures are literally bursting off the page. So much fun and frivolity we had to know more about the project.

Seesaw won the tender to rebrand the iconic Flinders Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula which involved defining the various areas of the venue – a destination fine dining experience, a casual bistro area, function space and a boutique 40 room hotel. They fused the rich history of the pub and the culinary journey created by renowned chef Pierre Khodja to create this visual feast you see so the original collages portray the eclectic offering, rich history, dining experience and modern outlook of the Flinders Hotel. If you’ve got the chance, visit the website and read the opening statement – it sure is a colourful history the Flinders Hotel has, as vibrant as their new branding.

Seesaw felt that the use of uncoated, tactile stocks to contrast with the various other materials used such as silicon and bamboo was the best solution. They originally chose Concept Vellum for the entire range but with the menus being somewhat disposable, Knight Vellum was used instead. A presentation style folder was created using Buffalo Board to again enhance and contrast with the other stocks/materials used. The menu shells and postcards are printed on Knight Vellum 200gsm, the business cards on Knight Vellum 340gsm and the folders on Buffalo Board 330gsm.

Seesaw worked extremely close to their client throughout the project. What made a massive difference is the substantial research and strategy work they did at the beginning of the project. When it came to creating final artwork, the client really trusted the proposed creative direction. The client is an extended family which Seesaw say meant the project was brimming with love and emotion. The collaboration with their printer was equally as important. Seesaw had to factor in multiple kinds, variations and units and with the knowledge and support of Adrienne at Southern Colour, who completely understood the brief and desired outcome, the print job was a success that both Seesaw and the client are very proud of.

As Seesaw explained to us: “The project as a whole had a very short turnaround time. The client was extremely supportive and involved, but also respectful of our creative opinion and vision and allowed us a huge amount of creative freedom. As a studio we love collaborating with clients and suppliers. It really was a dream project – an open yet challenging brief, beautiful product, stunning food, rich history and trusting clients.”

This rebrand is an ongoing project. The work completed so far includes brand identity, brand strategy, naming, positioning, creative direction, image making, menu system design, uniforms, signage, copy writing, marketing direction, online and digital material and advertising.

So, a trip to Flinders anyone?