Hot off the press! 8 newspapers to inspire you in April

Every month, we put together a roundup to show all the different ways our creative customers use newspapers. Below, 8 projects that all take a look back at history as we spring forward — from a typography portfolio inspired by retro lettering to a guide for thrifting the best vintage clothes. Plus, a few end-of-year reviews that put past work in a fresh format.

Creative connections

"We love print!" says Alison Matheny, founder of creative studio BEST. "We're so used to digesting everything in bite-sized chunks on social media, it's nice to get something in the mail and spend some time discovering it."

Alison describes this spring promo as "a fun read and a marketing piece all in one." It showcases the studio's recent work — like the broadsheet they make for Scribner's Catskill Lodge — alongside playful editorial packed with personality. (We love their clever flowchart, pictured above, that helps clients figure out which of BEST’s services is right for them.)

"The paper was a great prompt to communicate who we are and how we work," Alison says. "This is the first time we've done a bulk, cold mailing, so we're interested in making those new connections and seeing what comes from it!"

Printed on our digital tabloids.

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Retro writing

Amsterdam-based designer Thom Niessink says he's influenced by a "deep-rooted love for retro typography and illustration." In this pocket-sized portfolio, he shares a collection of his favourite lettering designs from the past year.

"The paper texture is really essential to give my work that vintage feel," explains Tom, who says that his favourite part of the design process was creating the cover: "I was really aiming for something punchy and I love creating those wavy letterforms, so that was a lot of fun."

Printed on our digital minis.

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Laundromat legacy

Mamie & Weaver's Ultra is a former dry cleaners turned community arts space in West Philadelphia, founded by artist Charles Hall. This 40-page publication — co-published with Lindsay Buchman and designed by Shakeil Greely — celebrates the legacy of Mamie and John Weaver, who occupied the space in the 1940s and inspired the gallery's name, as well as the creative spirits who call the neighbourhood home today.

"I love newsprint. It's an important medium and an even better material," says Charles. "Newsprint suggests urgency and patience. It's disposable and archivable. Noble and democratic." Flipping through the finished newspaper, Charles says, "feels like the beginning of a necessary conversation about the preservation of neighbourhood culture and history before gentrification erases the memories and changes the narrative."

(Top print tip from Charles: "The sample pack is extremely helpful in understanding how the material will respond to your text and imagery.")

Printed on our digital tabloids.

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Agency annual

Every year, Red Square Agency publishes an annual review of their favourite work — this is their 5th edition. "We love the tactile nature of print, and we also like to do things a little differently," says CEO Rich Sullivan. "Rather than relying solely on a website portfolio, we print ours. The whole process is a joy."

Red Square sends their annual to friends and clients, which include the likes of Google, Snickers and Hilton hotels. "Each year, we get more and more compliments," says Rich. "Clients love seeing their work in an editorial format."

And it helps them score new clients, too: "We've gotten new business directly because someone received the Annual and called us," adds Rich. "The ROI is astronomical. It's our single highest-returning promotional piece."

Printed on our traditional minis.

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Plant power

Plant-based pioneer Cafe Gratitude in Los Angeles is kicking off a fresh rebrand with print. Designer Augusto Piccio IV says this new zine is "a tangible signal" of change that also celebrates the cafe's history since opening in 2004.

"Newsprint can make printed objects feel thoughtful and considered but still accessible, without the gravitas of fancy or expensive papers," says Augusto. "The founders and CEO saw the zine as a really good reminder of the brand's ethos and felt like it reignited their passion for the restaurant."

Printed on our digital minis.

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Type tradition

For centuries, type foundries have produced publications known as “specimens” to illustrate the range of uses for their typefaces. In that tradition, Type West at Letterform Archive produced this catalogue, featuring the work of 14 independent type designers who graduated from the postgraduate Type Design programme in 2020.

"The best part of making the newspaper was seeing the student projects in a new context," says Letterform Archive's Lauren Hart. "Previously, we had viewed each project as the work of an individual type designer. When placed side by side in one publication, each individual project became part of a larger story of collective learning."

Printed on our traditional minis.

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Vintage 101

Streetwear label Lonely Ghost recently teamed up with local thrifters to repurpose vintage items for their new "Ghosted Garments" line. To coincide with the launch, they produced this guide to educate customers about what to look for when shopping for vintage. They stocked copies in this nifty custom newspaper dispenser in their store:

"No matter how much technology advances, people will always be drawn to physical print," says designer Hunter Young. "So many of our customers are coming in our store just to buy the zine. Everyone loves it!"

Printed on our digital minis.

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Green zine

The SSAW Collective is a community of growers and makers committed to an ethical way of working and advocating for positive ecological change in our food, flower and farming systems.

This zine is their first end-of-year review — a collection of contributions  originally published on their online journal. It was a chance to "reconnect with all our contributors and honour their time and effort in print," says SSAW Collective co-founder Olivia Wilson. "Like seasonal produce, the ephemerality of newsprint adds to its beauty. Feedback has been incredibly positive and we are already excited about the 2021 edition!"

Printed on our digital tabloids.

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