I got two words for you……….plain and simple.
No need for “fancy schmantsy or even artsy fartsy. Plain and simple are often exactly what you need to accomplish the job. Recently I had a print job catch my eye again as I walked through the press room. The job was business cards printed on a stock that resembled chip board and was complimented with two simple pieces of clip art. Those cards drew me towards them like a gold prospector honing in on a shiny rock. Not a common occurrence during my 37 year trek through a labyrinth of ink and paper.

I think of how easy it is to search for a photo on Google or go online to a “photo supermarket” and get the artwork you need for your printed piece; it is amazing how far the printing industry has come. Everybody’s doing it! That’s what I see when I look at the sea of printed pieces on our shop floor today. Trends like “drop shadows” or “gradients” certainly help mark the milestones. Real life photos, as if lifted off the pages of National Geographic, now adorn business cards for Gazelle Plumbing.

What sets this business card apart from the others is its simplicity. The artwork in the upper right and bottom left corner are green fern leafs. There is a small “clip art” owl, slightly above the words, “Wildlife Safaris”. Two months from now, I’ll still remember the name and I’ll remember the location. I won’t be distracted by anything, and when I’m looking for the card in my wallet to pass along, I’ll know exactly which one it is, even at a fast glance.

Why?
It’s plain, it’s simple and it looks nothing like all the others. Next time you’re on a safari and you see the zebras all zig, see if you can spot the one that zags.

Check out the design here, showing the printing marks and both sides of the final, trimmed piece:

Our featured product this week is a catalog for PFL customer B.R. Cohn Olive Oil Company. B.R. Cohn produces artisanal quality products including flavored olive oils, wine-inspired and balsamic vinegars, and a line of gourmet foods.           

B.R. Cohn’s catalog cover features a deco style image of an olive branch along with text printed in a deep yellow, appearing as gold. This single color graphic is laid out strikingly against a solid black background – which makes the image pop even more. The catalog is simple and elegant, with a minimalist tone and feel.  

Amazingly, this piece doesn’t use gold foil, or even more expensive metallic ink. This catalog keeps it simple, while fully utilizing the four color printing process. Customers reading this catalog are instantly drawn to its chic nature, leaving them thinking “I want some!”  

Learn more about the striking full color catalog we did for B. R. Cohn.

PFL customer Montage Imagers created a unique, double-sided piece highlighting a hand-drawn horse.

The high quality printing captures the detail of the penstrokes and “freestyle” nature of the piece, while the die-cut gives it a one-of-a-kind look that makes you want to pick it up. Check it out here:

This postcard brings together a great cause in a creative way: cocktails to raise money to benefit a library.

The postcard’s imagery of signature margarita glasses provide an eye-catching theme, and gets you to take a look, and once you realize it is for something beneficial, like promoting literacy, you might as well get yourself another round.

John Snogren, of Snogren Design and PFL customer, created a very visually interesting “brochure”, which provides plenty of real estate for a business to  showcase their product or service.

With a flat size of 17.5 inches, it folds down to a compact 3.5″ x 3.5″ square, which is easy to handle, mail or display at a counter. Check out the flat and folded size:

Business cards are one of the most important, yet ubiquitous products a business can have. How do you make yours stand out?
PFL customer Learning Rx Brain Training Center took their business card design to a new level with a very unique die-cut, maximizing their logo’s look.  Remember, not all businesses are created equal, so why should your business card be any different? Try something new, edgy or unique. Call us to find out how we can print just about any shape you want. 800-930-6040.0

Here is a creative way to use a postcard to announce a birthday party, as done by Pro Martial Arts. This makes for a fun, safe destination for the kids and parents, and gets people in the door not only for the party, but also as potential future students; a win-win all around. Great marketing piece!

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Check out Ambient Media’s latest print project — this is one of the pages of their 8.5×11″, 8-page catalog. They used 100# Topkote Dull/Matte paper to give the creative a nice subtle feel, and the colors and design really draw in the eye. Very “Superfly” indeed.

Thinking of a trip abroad to Paris to experience their cuisine, but can’t afford the trip? Take a look at this featured brochure from Chef de Paris in Merrick, NY. Chef de Paris prepares high quality gourmet frozen appetizers, vegetables side dishes and desserts for chefs worldwide.

This over sized tri-fold brochure displays Chef de Paris’ mouth-watering appetizers, side dishes and desserts. By selecting an 11 x 25 brochure the designer was able to showcase multiple pictures without over crowding the piece. The smooth finish of the 120# dull matte cover stock allows the vibrant colors of the food to really pop off the page.  With the thick paper stock and crisp images the designer portrayed the quality and class of their gourmet food in this brochure.

Read a more in-depth analysis of Chef de Paris’ 3 Panel Brochure.