Production Lesson(s)

The interior is paginated by content types, using multiple paper stocks gave visual cues guiding the reader across sections. This meant using three different CMYK mixes to ensure our reds were identical across the three paper types.

Our emboss plates needed to accomplish very different effects, communicating our intent with the craftsmen hand-tooling these pieces took place outside of files and offline. We'd discuss examples of naturally rough stone that had been embossed and shared videos of chisels hitting solid-slabs achieving dimensional cuts. This illustrated to the die-markers the specific techniques need to accomplish the detailed finish.

The catalogue's true cover is completely sealed by a hand-affixed wrap. To open the book and get to the contents the reader must crack open the wrap. There are strategically sized and placed die cuts that allow the cover to achieve a clean snap only when bent. Figuring out these die cuts took testing and adjusting. There was a round that did not yield a clean snap, one that would hold form for 12 hours then would snap due to the the physics of the binding, another snapped based upon the amount of shake within a shipping box. All of this was tested for and solved.

Across all of these challenges what rang true each time was that we were working with the best printer and finishing house around. If there is one lesson, work with experts and invite their expertise and thoughts into the design process. Working together in a truly collaborative fashion will lead to the best product.