StudioBrave’s spectacular new printed piece – the Dow 50NZ Retrospective printed by Melbourne’s PressPrint on a range of paper supplied by K W Doggett– has taken digital printing to a new level.
The 50NZ Dow Retrospective was produced to commemorate 50 years of business in New Zealand for the global chemical organisation involved in the markets of agriculture, consumers, energy, infrastructure and transportation.
Carlo Mussett from the Melbourne design studio explains: “We were engaged to produce a book that harnessed the rich history of Dow in New Zealand and the culture that surrounds it. The company had become synonymous with New Plymouth, producing generations of employees and becoming part of the fabric that makes up the region. This book was for them, for every employee of the past 50 years.”
The piece combines beautiful artwork, a selection of monochromatic papers and print techniques that work together seamlessly. The paper, supplied by K W Doggett, includes Keaykolour JetBlack 300gsm for the cover, belly wrap on Conqueror Laid 300gsm with opaque white ink plus Knight Digital Indigo 120gsm for the text.
“It was important th ebook felt tactile, personal and natural, to reflect Dow’s passion for sustainability in agriculture and the environment. Conqueror Laid Calligraphy was used to complement this concept and every employee’s name has been foiled on the inside cover for an added personal touch,” continues Mussett.
The pages of the retrospective are a treat to explore and the paper lends itself really well to image rich photography. Studio Brave engaged photographer Derek Swalwell to shoot New Zealand’s North Island, in particular New Plymouth.
Mussett adds: “We wanted this to be a retrospective first and a company branded book second. By removing corporate colours and bringing in the iconic black of New Zealand, we found a balance and relationship grow between the book and its content.”
K W Doggett acknowledges: “This is a great example of how you can design for digital print and really push the boundaries of creativity to achieve an outstanding result!”