&

Materials

Processes
Design 3553

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 4 Course Overview

5 History of Print

6 Field Trips

20 Guest Speakers

22 Projects

24 Summary

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Contents
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 History of Print
Source: Fine Art America

To understand how printing has become so advanced in today’s

society, it is essential to delve back in time, starting in 200 AD.
Woodblock printing began to form as it was used for faster
reproduction methods, and illustrations were used on woodblocks
as well. Moving into 10th-century Europe, Catholic monasteries and
monks would copy text by manuscript. As these were handwritten,
they were hard to produce and only allowed certain copies, usually
given to higher societal figures.

In the 1400s, the Gutenberg Press was created to solve mass

production and written text, as it could produce up to 3600 copies
per day. This was the foundation for print today, where “The Press”
was coined. Over the next 500 years, letterpress printing started
to develop and is still used today to produce wedding invitations
and business cards. Finally, today, we see a massive jump in screen
printing, which contains all the positives of earlier printing methods
with the addition of CMYK.

Course Overview
This class was purposed to give students more insight and
understanding into print production and materials used in design
mediums such as environmental branding, printing, product
production, and freelancing. As students, at the end of the semester,
we were expected to know basic print methods and terminology such
as Pantone, CMYK, Dye-Cuts, and Offset printing with projects that
were able to give us more insight into environmental branding and
development of packaging using research and user testing to learn
about the types of materials that are used throughout the packaging
and design phase.

While gaining knowledge in class, using outside field trips and guest
speakers to see the field and do tactile activities around Columbus
was commonly done for even more learning and development.

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 My knowledge of printing, the early history, the process, and how
we print today has grown. However, I noticed one common theme
after visiting the Thompson Library Special Collections. The modern
technology of how we print today is due to how early printers used
animal skin to print older types. At Thompson Library, there was a
vast selection of books ranging from the 1400s to today, but the most
fascinating section to me was the Bible. The Gutenberg Bible showed
consistency with the margins and alignment of the text. Also, it is
essential to note that it was a second version, meaning that a printing
press was used to replicate the original.

Another takeaway from the ‘Special Collections’ was the King James
Bible gifted to the king in the 1600s and another bible that used
the calf’s skin in production. A closer look at the pages showed the
animal veins and punctures that made up the form. While talking
with the director of the ‘Special Collections Archive,’ he mentioned
that the animal’s width in the skin determined how much room early
designers, historians, and printmakers had for the text. This would
explain the minimal type with close leading seen in early books,
setting the foundation of how we print today.

Thompson Archive
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 At Robin Enterprise, it was mentioned that a printing plate for an
offset press had certain boundaries in which the print needed to be.
In turn, this sizing, which in the example of Robin Enterprises had
to be six boxes, was because in early history people were naturally
bound to the margins and widths of the animals. This is an exciting
correlation since I had never noticed because of how we are naturally
conditioned to consider margins, width, and alignment of designs and
the page itself.

My reflection on early and current printing methods is critical

to mention using heat through laser and UV rays that are now

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embedded in today’s printing methods. It is almost comical that heat
has advanced but is still crucial to specific printing, such as foiling and
embossing. The way we print in current times has just advanced in its
less tedious methods, but the foundation is still the same.

Robin Enterprises
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 The trip gave a further in-depth explanation of the printing process
and the many choices in making a successful print. The biggest
takeaway from the presentation was that the print tells the story.

While listening to Kendall Markley, she explained the different

mediums of paper that can be used for advertisement, poster making,
and events. For example, if making a flyer, the paper type used will be
lower in quality and cost to get the maximum use out of it because it
is not a keepsake. However, for an invitation to the Wex’s Anniversary
Party, foiling, embossing, and thicker paper will show that the event
is meaningful and maybe indicate a formal dress code. It was also
said that the use of Pantone colors is substantial as they are one of

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the distinguishing qualities of a brand. The Wex uses a signature blue
color with its own Pantone, used in posters and other elements.

Wexner Center
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 Igloo Press gave insight into smaller business printing and the
physical use of the dominant proof press before machines. Igloo
Press explains the usage of ink and that when hand-mixing ink, the
ratio of CMYK is vital for the particular shade or tint you are trying to
achieve. I also found it fun how we got to do a demo with their main
printing press, which was hand-operated and used plastic printing
plates instead of metal because of the content they printed.

There was also an emphasis on binding and how the type of binding
can be perceived differently. For example, a hardback that is perfectly
bound will have a different connotation as opposed to a sewn spine
that has more of a rustic look. There are multiple decisions from

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paper type, weight, the usage of ink in Pantone or CMYK, and binding
combined to tell the story of what it is being used for.

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Igloo Press
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 Terri at Millcraft Paper, reiterated not to make assumptions about
what the client would want and to listen, as usually, the paper would
tell the story, too. I learned about the different types, weights, and
coatings of paper materials and their costs, which is another essential
factor for the client as it may or may not fit the client’s budget. She
also supplied us with paper samples to reference while we worked
with printing and packaging materials.

Finally, after hearing her presentation, I got a clear idea of the printing
industry and how to cut down waste and cost through the choices
we, as designers, make and how we can guide the client to help their
overall process.

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Millcraft Paper
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 Columbus Sign expanded on the materials as we saw how these
environmental branding elements are made. We could feel different
signage, such as how it differed from wood to plastic to aluminum. It
was also interesting to see how color can be used to get a brand’s
specific Pantone color with technology.

Columbus Sign Company was an excellent trip for observational

looking. Talking to people specializing in glass, paint, steel, and other
materials gave me more appreciation for the design process as a
whole. Understanding that design is never done and that there are
many people you work with through the journey gives more insight
into how to make everyone’s job easier!

Columbus Sign Co.

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 With the visiting of Landor, I was able to see everything we have
learned throughout the semester combined with how they project
into the world. After starting with a tour, Landor employees mentioned
that they have samples to pull from, which is common in every
design agency. Haley Baker showed us a presentation for Dell, which
included environmental branding, wayfinding, and overall branding to
redo a store’s selling area. Landor has 2D and 3D designers, which in
turn help with the cohesiveness of the renderings and what is being
presented to the client. Haley incorporated the Dell look but also
thought about sustainability, as most of the furniture in the room was
reused to save the client money.

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Bridget McNeil extended her work with Walmart by presenting their
new pet center. The task is to create a self-serving pet center using
Walmart’s existing branding. Bridget showed that the wayfinding and
symbols that were created correlated with Walmart’s brand. She also
mentioned using environmental branding through a plant wall, but
it had to be plastic for cost reasons. Another interesting thing was
that they usually couldn’t tour the area due to cost reasons, so the
3D design team had to be very detailed in their renderings, as this is
where the measurements were coming from.

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Landor
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 Jermey Slagle
“Design & Illustration Workshops & Speaking Engagements.” Slagle Design,
https://www.slagledesign.com/speaking-workshops. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

I gained a sense of collaborative design and how it can be

essential to understand the client and the materials. The biggest
takeaway from Slagle Designs is that the client and materials
will lead you where to go and always to “think about the money”
when going through a design process. While listening to Jeremy
Slagle, he talked about his work with clients and how his first step
is always to observe. He mentioned that he tries to avoid making
any preconceived designs or ideations as this could hinder
the outcome or skew his perspective. He explained that when
talking with a client, they will visit other retail stores where the
competitors are found to get inspiration from what the clients like
and dislike about different designs. Observation, inspiration, and
research can also help assemble the logistics, such as a specific
1 2 Gabby Fugger
Office, Continental. PA Cyber - Midland Administrative Campus | Continental Office. https://
www.continentaloffice.com/pa-cyber-midland-administrative-campus. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

This was my first time hearing about environmental branding, and

I initially believed it meant adding natural elements to a company,
building, or school due to the name. I learned and understood
that environmental branding uses the client’s brand and puts
those elements into the space. It is a mix of interior and visual
communication because of the knowledge needed for specific
materials.

Gabby explained the process of environmental branding, the first

step being to look at the space. Understanding the environment
you are branding for and a sense of where specific furniture is,
such as lighting, windows, and doors, allows you to see where
the branding would fit best. After that, talking to the client about
size requirement for a box or container. their established brand, which they should have, also helps you
understand what is most important to the client. We were provided
Jeremey stated that materials may be already available from with different types of vinyl, metals, glasses, and foam board,
past production, depending on the company. To cut costs and which can be used to create 3D elements. One particular sample I
be environmentally friendly, use the old materials and suggest found interesting was the frosted glass, which was a way to keep
stickers
20 | Chapter with the new branding or a non-glue sealingChapter
Title method Title
to |2020 the elegance
21 | Chapter Title of glass but also enhance privacy and aid safetyTitle | 21
Chapter
help financially. regulations for distinction.
 Project
1 2
The first project was to use what we learned about print
Summary
Summary
techniques and the process to redesign a candy package,
render, and mock it up as if we were presenting it to a client. My
group was assigned Crunch Bars to make them more elegant
and sell them with higher-end candy that can be eaten with
coffee instead of regular Halloween candy.
First, we felt the packaging of the crunch bar as it currently
is, noticing observations about it, such as the thin packaging,
which helps the user feel the rice crisps that give it the signature
crunch. Second, we researched Crunch’s existing brands and
competitors, including Dove, Ghiradelli, and Lindot. Then, we
started to sketch out concept ideas. Since the goal was to
repackage, we decided to stick with the colors in the Crunch
brand but omitted the red because a monotone packaging
would help with the elegance. Since Crunch prioritizes their
candy on the texture, we decided that the packaging would
allow the user to feel it as it is also wrapped tightly in gold foil
to catch customers’ eyes. Overall, the project helped me learn
how to form dye cuts, explain why I would omit elements of an
22 | Chapter Titlebrand, and explain it to the company.
existing Chapter Title |22
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Project
Project two focused on environmental branding, intending to
add Ohio State-centered branding elements to celebrate the
rich history of Hayes Hall. With Gabby Fugger from Continental
Office’s presentation, we also had to decide on certain materials
while mocking up the branding.
My team started with research on Hayes Hall, precisely honing
in on critical facts like it being the oldest building on campus,
always hosting the arts since its opening, and the building
being named after a former president, Rutherford B. Hayes.
Then, we toured parts of Hayes that could use environmental
branding and wayfinding. I focused on one of the walls next to
the elevator as this is a crucial configuring point to get to most
classrooms. Next, we dove into the existing brands of Ohio
State, pointing out elements such as the Block O, the Buckeye,
and the existing color palette of scarlet and gray. Since Ohio
State has an established brand, I decided to use gray tones
and scarlets as an accent to bring attention to Hayes’s tradition.
Finally, after mocking up the design, the materials used would
be vinyl for easy removal and room to update as Ohio State and
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HayesTitle
Hall advance. Chapter Title | 23
 Summary
Design Materials and Processes gave me a lot of knowledge of the
printing process, along with environmental branding and wayfinding.
Being able to experience the field of design helped extend my design
resources and network while getting a better idea of life after college.
Another part of the course that helped was working in teams for
almost all of the projects; as a person who likes to work individually,
using my strengths and improving on my weaknesses in a group
setting helps with my work ethic and the career field I may choose.

I have now found a new interest in environmental branding and

wayfinding, which is something I plan to extend in the future. Overall,
the course gave me an appreciation for design outside of the
computer and how we have gotten so far in our technology, and it
makes me excited for the future!

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24 Anastasia Allison | Spring
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