Above and below are two pre-press proofs that we pulled for Lindsey so she could compare the color of the gradient, the value of the line screen clouds (which were hard to photograph but looked awesome in person) as well as the value of the silver. Above we have a more peachy hue, and below more pink with a lighter silver.

Upon sending images over to the client for final sign off we hit the presses and shipped these babies out!

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Letterpress printed business cards and product tags. Printed on 110# lettra paper with 1/4″ rounded corner radius. Tags were hole punched with a 3/16″ hole, and ink was a pantone match. Business cards sized at 2×3.5″ and tags sized at 1.5×3.5″.

All designs and proofs ©2010 Dingbat Press.

Option 1: This concept was derived from old tradesmen marks. A painter had paintbrushes & palette knife, a wood worker had chisel & hand planer and a baker had a rolling pin & whisk. We wanted to take this old trade “mark” and give it new life and thought the honey dipper and whisk would be a perfect combination. There are two “seal” options, all set in different typographic samples. With the seal we wanted it to work independently as well as with typography so there was flexibility with application and usage. We tried to keep the typography simple and reflective of 50′s decorative art and bakeries.

Option 2: This option explored the concept of gold-ribbon baking. So many great retro bakers learned to bake for family and community. I think of 50′s baking and it was the height of real home-made baked goods. I wanted to portray that ribbon of honor that bakers back in the day proudly donned in their bakeries. This logo also has a cupcake with a “bee” topper – subtle but unique. The typography juxtaposes the art deco sans serif paired with a simple script that is reflective of 50′s advertisements.

Option 3: This design is more typographic based. We went with a classic retro typeface and used the different weights to create separation between the words in the business name. With this design we wanted to give a creative approach of “cupcakes” without just sticking a cupcake in there somewhere. The idea was to “top” the letters with different frosting. Keeping it simple and straight-forward and sweet.

Option 1: This design is more concept based, emphasizing the circles in the typography as well as the knocked-out ampersand between Jones & Vandermeer. We wanted a subtle hint of the circular motion of a ball of yarn rolling around but also wanted it to relate to a global shape symbolizing process and the travels invested in procuring this yarn. The typography has been manipulated so that the the balls in the letters have more motion and don’t feel so static but still providing a strong sophisticated brand that is not too crafty looking.

Option 2: This design is a mix of the casual stylistic watercolors that we were inspired by on the Hermes website (per the client’s suggestion). We wanted something that spoke to the handmade generation and yet still felt high end and regal. The typography was set and then hand traced to give it a more distressed and whimsical feel, then paired with a banner and seal option that brought in a hint of Edwardian flourish without feeling too stuffy. By putting the typography on a diagonal we felt it created a more playful look to the brand without getting too childish.

Option 3: The third option is more sentimental. After hearing about the business being named after the client pet doggies, I really wanted to give this design more meaning. Often one feels proud of a brand because it is a reflection of them. We took typography in this design that had really beautiful and elegant swashes – they almost double as a doggy’s tail. I felt like they were so playful and reflective of a pets love and excitement. Since the other two designs were more concept and theory based, with this design we also explored an illustration of a ball of yarn so that the client could compare imagery versus concept.

What is your favorite and why?

It’s so fun taking a brand to the next level and seeing it applied in all it’s variations across the board. This letterhead is a 1/2 sheet (5.5×8.5″) perfect for those business notes and small invoices that don’t need to waste a whole sheet.

Who doesn’t love the story of Tristian and Isolde? I know I do, and in a perfect legend they would have gotten hitched instead of Isolde marrying King Mark of Cornwall. Of course I love Celtic knot patterns and thought it fitting to design a wedding suite for Tristian and Isolde true to her Irish heritage. The thing I’m hung up on are colors and the bridal logo. It’s been harder for me to pull this suite together as a cohesive whole and am looking for feedback. Does the bridal logo look like a soccer ball? How do you feel about the buff/khaki/chocolate with accented chartreuse? It’s hard sometimes to see a digital proof and imagine it in letterpress, what are your thoughts? Should I keep working at it, or pass on it all together?

These were done for Nicole a little while back. She provided the beautiful handwritten “events” cursive which we based off the rest of the designs. She was looking for classy, fun and not too stuffy but something that still screamed high end. Here is her first round of biz card proofs.

One of our best challenges yet, we laminated (duplexed) two sheets of 250GSM Rives BFK grey – which is oh so delicious to print on, with a 90# cover of neon blue Wausau cover sandwiched in the middle.

Makayla was getting high on spray glue, so was Adam.

The hardest part about printing this job was that with the dark paper sandwiched in the middle, we couldn’t rely on our trusty windows/light table for see-though registration on the back. The work-around was to print with the crop marks hanging off the edge of the paper so we could see the front to back registration with how the crop marks lined up looking at the sheet from a side-view.

These definitely had their moments on press, but we are always up for a challenge – especially something with
a cool outcome. Let us know if you’ve got a crazy idea, we’d love to humor you as well as win the project. Contact us with the details regarding your custom letterpress vision, we look forward to hearing from you!

All designs ©2010 Dingbat Press

Option 1: We wanted to explore a hint of organic that tied in the N with leaf imagery. The Double N implies bringing light out of dark. Instead of a shadow we wanted a second implication that you are finding a more pure solution for energy in homes. We have separated nature and tek by color to differentiate between the two words but still have the logo not feel discombobulated.

Option 2: This is a more literal logo symbolizing the home and nature elements. The tree ideally would be blind impressed if it was letterpress printed. It provides a subtle second look to the logo and ties in the heirarchal importance of your services. We also wanted a tree that embodied energy and felt that the leaves radiating out could also represent the sun’s rays and help providing a look for the energy.

Option 3: This option utilizes a logo mark that can be used with the logo and typography or as a logo symbol on its own. We liked the leaf morphing into the plug and wanted it to create a double meaning, graphically representing green energy, and typographically, as the letter “e” within the logo. A third implication is that the “e” can also ask whether or not it’s referring to energy or just a stand alone logo.

Dubbed Caesar Pig

Dubbed Vintage Pig

Dubbed Zodiac Pig

To request an estimate for branding and letterpress work,
please Get An Estimate as we’d LOVE to work with you!
All designs ©2010 Dingbat Press

Option 1: Maple Leaf wedding suite

This concept plays off a beautiful photo of a wedding cake with the maple leaves that the client sent over. Seeing that she had mentioned wanting bright colors, we explored oranges and warm coral/red on this option. We were going for elegant with the calligraphy typeface however wanted to explore some unique layouts for this. The inner envelope would be lined with the maple leaves liner, and the outer envelope is the cream, matching the paper stock used for the invites. The inner envelope is in poppy and both envelopes would look beautiful addressed with chocolate ink for her guests.

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Option 2: Heart Thumbprint wedding invitations

We LOVED the thumbprint heart concept that the client presented and thought it would be a good design to add in the requested plum color and the orange. Because we wanted to place emphasis on the thumbprint, we wanted the remainder of the invitation to invoke a minimalist feel with beautiful large margins and flowing typography to tie it in all together. Since the thumbprint is such a personal element of a human and no two are the same, we wanted to maintain that feel in the invitation with a simple typeface reflecting classic school penmanship. There are added dingbats throughout the layout as well, reflecting back on the symbolism of the heart and tying in the typography with the emblem. The envelop liner on this design is an overprint of purple ink on purple paper, to give the envelope a really stunning pop when opened. It sort of adds the detailing in the other pieces without making it look too elaborate or over the top.

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Option 3: Modern Dahlia wedding invitations

The last option was based off some client provided photos of the dahlias in a beautiful peach color. We wanted to bring in a monochromatic feel to this invite, emphasizing the oranges and peaches that are evident in that photo. Again we wanted to explore a more unique approach to the invitation layout with the typography. The flower pattern is carried across all the invitation pieces, and will make such a beautiful impression when printed.

If you were getting hitched, what suite would you go for?

All designs © 2010 Dingbat Press. Rights reserved.

This was taken outside the new local creamery in Driggs. Serving fresh gelato daily, I’m hopelessly addicted! I feel sort of sick and twisted because now is the time to be enjoying summer, seeing that it has finally arrived here in Driggs. However, I just wanted to show you a sneak peek of the holiday collection launching in August (wholesale ordering) and mid-September (retail buying). Hopefully with the new product, we’ll have a new self-hosted Dingbat Press shop too!

It is so beautiful, warm and sunny here. I feel that especially after this last winter, that I’m not ready for another winter. I told Brian the other day that he should open a fly-fishing lodge for the other half of the year in the Bahamas. I am sooo not ready for the summer to close except maybe so I can get these cards out to you.

What do you think? As I’m wrapping up the collection I want to know what you’d buy : photo cards, gift tags, greeting cards, recipe tags?

All designs and rights reserved. ©2010 Dingbat Press