Examples
01. Book Design Management
Outline:
- Make a project outline including budgets, timings and other expectations.
- Decide on specifications and preferences such as paper, bindings, colour space and font system.
- Liaise with printing companies to get quotes and decide on a budget.
- Set timelines.
- Scan and organise content.
- Organise design sessions & bring book together for proofs.
- Approve proofs, make corrections and send for printing.
- Arrange finishing, packaging and promotional items.
Technical skills used:
- Scanning, retouching and file conversion and vectorisation using Adobe Suite.
- Setting colour profiles and consistent file naming and organisation.
- Utilising experience of print work to advise on reliable outcomes.
- Advising on colour systems such as CMYK and adding spot colours where applicable.
- Understanding design specifications for hard covers, spine width calculations etc.
- Advising on coatings such as gloss/matt UV coatings or foils.
- Layout work using Adobe InDesign.
- Pre-press checks and producing final files and versioning for the printer.
- Communications with the printer regarding their technical requirements.
- Organising any additional finishing and logistics.
02. Fabric Repeat Pattern Technical Work
Outline:
- Work with the creative to collect sketches, artworks and concepts.
- Liaise with the manufacturer/s to collect all relevant specifications and technical details.
- Check timelines and construct rough repeat artworks for approval.
- Adjust the design in collaboration with the creative to ensure perfect rhythm in the repeat in both directions.
- Detail check export files and organise proofing on paper and if approved a digital fabric check.
- Finalise sign-offs and communicate with factory and creative.
Technical skills used:
- Scanning and retouching using Adobe Photoshop.
- Setting colour profiles and consistent file naming and organisation.
- Utilising experience of repeat print work to advise on reliable outcomes.
- Advising on colour systems such as CMYK and adding spot colours where applicable.
- Understanding and being able to see inconsistencies in density and rhythm in repeats.
- Advising on print techniques, prototyping and fabrics.
- Delivering signed-off artworks to schedule.
- Pre-press checks and producing final files and versioning for the printer.
- Understanding technical requirements.
- Understanding import statuses from producer to market, finishing techniques and logistics.
03. Brand Manual Construction or Update
Outline:
- Redesigning inconsistent systems of branding.
- Locating old manuals, out of date files and solving confusion about where files are stored.
- Collecting and refreshing all the relevant files for logos, colour systems, fonts and other style guidelines.
- Redrawing and reformatting content assets into a new streamlined system.
Technical skills used:
- File management across multiple platforms and locations.
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Canva and other end-user design tools.
04. Preparation of Files for Risographic & Screenprint
Outline:
- Working with the artist to create good quality and high resolution artworks.
- Making decisions about ink choices, print supplier and separations.
- Presenting choices and providing simulated print images to speed the creative process.
- Formatting and delivering digital assets to the printer.
Technical skills used:
- In-depth understanding of digital separation to spot colour plates.
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
05. Copywriting, Tone of Voice & Communication Guidelines
Outline:
- Working with a client to establish the need for cohesive and clear communications in the written and spoken word.
- Creating copy that has a designed ‘tone of voice’ that fits the client organisation’s communication personality.
- Creating a series of guidelines and policies for the creation of copy now, and in the future.
- Being available to give final checks on new sub-brands, product names, titles and typographic systems and norms.
Technical skills used:
- In-depth understanding of colloquial and professional English as a native user.
- The ability to design copy systems.
- Long-term experience of proper use of capitalisation, hyphenation, paragraphs, punctuation and other agreed norms of type delivery and presentation.