Client: Monadnock Paper Mills

Printer: Kirkwood Printing

Designing swatchbooks is always a challenge and this one was no exception. They are one of my favorite things to design because I have a lot of creative freedom yet still need to work within a very particular set of parameters. The book had to not only look beautiful and on-trend, but also function well as a tool for printers, designers and brand owners so they can see and feel the papers to help chose the right one for their project.

The Must-Haves:

Create a swatchbook that features Monadnock’s line of 100% post-consumer recycled content paper in both coated and uncoated finishes.

The artwork needs to be designed in a way that shows how great the paper performs. Show areas of solid color, deep blacks, highly detailed imagery, and areas of white.

Include two print demonstration sheets. The chosen artwork needed to show great contrast, vibrant colors, and fine detail.

Include information about the papers, the recycled content, and the environmental impact of using 100% PCW recycled paper.

Show samples of different weights of papers within three product lines. The samples were to be in tiered, bound stacks called “waterfalls.”

Include stock and property data charts to be hidden beneath the waterfalls and print demonstrations.

Printing and Production:

Throughout the entire process, we worked closely with Kirkwood to perfect the dieline and structure. We learned a few things along the way, again emphasizing the importance of mockups and dummies.

The book is a 6×9″ 4-panel roll fold that includes bound print demonstrations and waterfalls with all components printed offset. The cover features a silver metallic touch plate in the water to give it a subtle shimmer and dimension, and a spot UV gloss coating on the red umbrella to achieve a wet look.