For Parse & Parcel, 2016 was a year filled with inspiration, experimentation, collaboration – and change.
We hosted three events in the sample studio, complete with three large-scale paper installations. Added a new intern to our team. We traveled back and forth to NYC, first to judge the Louie Awards, then later for the National Stationery Show. Connected with design and paper peeps in Atlanta for How Design Live. We got to be a sponsor for AIGA’s Get Out the Vote campaign. We revamped the delivery for our flagship product, The Parcel – shipping four times a year (winter, spring, summer, fall). Learned all about digital metallic inks, tried our hands at letterpress and wrote articles for some of our fave online, and print, publications.
You would think this would be enough to do for one year but not quite…
When P&P launched The Swatchbox, you told us you loved the packaging for it. In fact, you loved it so much many of you asked if you could purchase just the boxes, sans swatchbooks. I took that as a compliment and the impetus for P&P’s next project.
I’ve known for a while what I wanted to do, and the timing was right to do it – but that meant changing something big. And that’s scary.
Then I thought about all the things that lead me to this point, and you know what? They were all scary. Every. Single. One.
But guess what? We’re still here. And that’s pretty awesome.
NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK – NEW PACKAGING FOR THE PARCEL
The new year brings new packaging for The Parcel. We’re Delivering Paper Inspiration in a sleek, rigid box – wrapped in luxe, tactile paper and embossed silver foil stamp. Each issue of The Parcel features a different paper for the box-wrap. It was important to us that subscribers see and feel first hand the impact paper has on packaging design.
At its core, The Parcel is meant to inspire creatives, showing them what’s possible with print design through a better understanding of paper specification and production – that hasn’t changed.
With its minimal aesthetic, it’s packaging meant for re-purposing. The new packaging for The Parcel makes it perfect for storing all those special projects that won’t fit neatly in a standard file folder and will look great in any design studio.
THE PARCEL – WINTER ISSUE NOW SHIPPING!
The Winter Issue, which ships through the end of February, features packaging produced on Mohawk Carnival Groove in Stellar White.
Oh, did I mention the best part? The Parcel is on sale right now for just $25 an issue – including free shipping!
I’m not gonna lie, I was still scared about changing our packaging. I mean what if subscribers didn’t like it? Then I got a text from one of my design/paper heroes (and P&P subscriber), Daniel Dejan, saying “Love the new packaging. Elegant. Not surprising.”
I realize most of the decisions I make about P&P are going to be scary, and that’s a good thing.
Change is scary for everyone, but necessary if you want to grow – whether you’re self-employed or on someone’s payroll.
If the best work in your portfolio is from four years ago, chances are your billings look like they did four years ago too. And contrary to what some may try to convince you of – flat is NOT the new black.
If you want grow your business, do work you love and get paid good money to do it, then it’s time to change things up. Seek out collaborations, learn something new, experiment, start that passion project.
And if you’re looking for some new print and paper inspiration, we know just the place to start.