Graphic Design Archives - Parse & Parcel - Delivering Paper Inspiration

Neenah Launches The Naturals Swatch Book: Environment & Royal Sundance

April 16, 2019 by Jill DiNicolantonio

Naturals-swatch-book-parse-parcel

Most creatives we talk to love working on print projects. It affords them the opportunity to use color and texture in a way they don’t get to explore when designing for digital. Most have a very clear idea of how they want the finished piece to look and feel – and the papers specified are a big part of the overall design. The frustrating part for some creatives is in navigating industry resources. It can feel a bit like reading a foreign language. I often hear creatives comment, “I know what type of paper I want to use, I just can’t find it.” The good news is that the paper makers are listening and creating better resources with the creative community in mind. Based on market feedback, Neenah recently launched The Naturals swatch book. The Naturals combines two of their most popular grades – Environment and Royal Sundance.

Topography Inspired Journal & Pencil Box Set – Part One

May 15, 2018May 10, 2018 by Jill DiNicolantonio

Did you ever have an idea for a project you were saving for something really special? You know, the one you keep tucked away for just the right circumstances. For me it was the pencil box. Looking back, I definitely under estimated a few things about the project. My timeline was way off. And honestly, the production skills required for a packaging project are different than four-color offset printing. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, the only way you grow is by challenging yourself. So I dove in, head first. This post is all about the process for producing the Topography Inspired Journal & Pencil Box Set – the good, the bad and the ugly.

Neenah Inspires a Classic Retail Revolution

September 29, 2018April 10, 2018 by Jill DiNicolantonio

When it comes to developing a retail brand, most designers will tell you the devil is in the details. Making sure brand identity and messaging connect with its audience involves many elements that require thoughtful attention to detail – especially print collateral. In fact, it is scientifically proven that consumers form powerful, emotional connections through touch. It’s called haptics, and when thoughtfully incorporated into a retail brand’s print collateral, it has the ability to turn customers into brand loyalists. And Neenah is leading the charge, inspiring a revolution of sorts with its newest promotion. CLASSIC^® Retail Revolution is a resource for designers working with retail clients to help them see new and unique ways to use printed pieces as a tangible element of today’s retail experiences.

Love Flourishes – New USPS Love Stamp by Anna Rifle Bond

January 18, 2018 by Jill DiNicolantonio

I’m half-way through my midday americano, when I suddenly remembered today’s the day. I pack up my planner and search for the nearest post office. Two minutes later I’m standing in front of Mrs. Pacindo at the USPS in Independence, Ohio, gleefully asking for the new Love stamp. By the look on her face, I could tell she thought I was a little too excited about a stamp. But today is the day that love flourishes for stationery enthusiasts, as the new USPS Love Stamp designed by Anna Rifle Bond (of Rifle Paper) debuts.

A Strong Relationship Between Designer and Printer

January 3, 2018 by Jill DiNicolantonio

There’s this idea that in order to produce high-quality print, one must have clients with deep pockets. I was a paper rep for many years and I can tell you some of the best print projects I worked on didn’t have huge budgets. In fact, it’s often just the opposite. Producing great print is not about having a great budget, it’s about having great relationships. You can tell a lot about the relationship between a designer and print rep by the quality of the project’s print production. When production details are so well executed they blend synergistically with the design, that’s the tell-tale sign of a strong relationship between designer and printer. And this was the case with the NewBridge 2017 Annual Report.

Harness Cycle Rebrand

September 29, 2018December 5, 2017 by Jill DiNicolantonio

The fun thing about what we do at Parse & Parcel, is getting to see glimpses of projects as we consult on paper and production. And rebranding projects are some of our favorites – especially those that take special consideration of the details. Our friends at the Studio of Christine Wisnieski share some insights into their process, and beautiful details, for the Harness Cycle rebrand.

Craft Beer Branding with CODO Design & AIGA

September 29, 2017 by Jill DiNicolantonio

When we first saw the Craft Beer Branding Guide by the guys at CODO Design, we knew it was one for our keeper file. Born out of the website bearing its name, CODO teamed up with our pals at Neenah to produce a print version in pocket guide format. While the subject may be about craft beer, the strategy behind branding craft beer can be applied to many verticals. Especially those who have a physical product as part of their business. We shared the piece in the spring issue of The Parcel, it was an instant subscriber favorite. So we partnered up with our friends at AIGA to bring the team from CODO to Cleveland to share a bit about their business, their work and their love of craft beer and branding. It was a packed house at Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland for Craft Beer Branding with CODO Design & AIGA. Cody and Isaac dug deep and shared some really great insights into how they doubled down on a niche market to take their design firm national.

Standards Manual Book Store For Designers

August 15, 2017 by Jill DiNicolantonio

Parse & Parcel readers know we’re on a mission to make resources available to all creatives. So when we learn about like-minded endeavors, we have to share. Like so many creatives, we enjoy the pleasure of discovering a little gem. Especially those that have been given new life. This was the case when we were setting up the sample studio. In addition to the massive amounts of paper and print samples we keep on hand, we’re smitten with nostalic design memorabilia. When Jesse Reed and Hamish Smyth launched their reissue of the 1970 New York City Transit Authority Graphics Standards Manual on kickstarter, we backed it in the first few days. Its home is on the coffee table in our lounge area and always gets by our design friends who visit. There is definitely something about analog resources that attracts creatives. Luckily, Jesse and Hamish launched Standards Manual, a book store for designers.

Designers Influence Colored & Textured Papers

September 29, 2018July 20, 2017 by Jill DiNicolantonio

Are you tired of choosing a paper for a project, only to find out it’s not available locally or you can’t get it in small quantities? Yeah, we’ve there a time or twelve. It’s never fun, especially when the client has their heart set on something. Well, here’s your chance to do something about it … Read more

A Classic Brand Gets a Refresh – Neenah CLASSIC® Papers

April 27, 2017April 27, 2017 by Jill DiNicolantonio

By definition, the word classic means “serving as a standard of excellence : of recognized value.” In other words something that stands the test of time. Neenah’s CLASSIC® Brands have been around for 55 years. And that’s saying something in an industry that’s pretty fickle when it comes to paper grades with staying power. To give you some context, I started in the industry around the same time Survivor first aired. I’ve seen more papers come and go than torches snuffed out by Jeff Probst. So yes, it’s safe to say the CLASSIC® Papers live up to their name. But how exactly does a brand that is so iconic and classic undertake a refresh? Well, that was a collaborative process between Neenah Paper and Design Army that was a year in the making. I say it was well worth the wait because the results are stellar.