Bronze Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design · 2020
The Passion of the Card Leadlight Series Self Promotion
by Rebecca Burt
- A' Design Award 2020 Bronze Winner in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Flexicon
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 12,179
- Verification code 4F9E06E7DA · Verify this award
About The Passion of the Card Leadlight Series Self Promotion
Stained glass windows are beautiful when backlit by the sun and also a unique way to showcase this design and printing process. These business cards are virtually hand made. Silk screen printed on a clear plastic stock and then dried one colour at a time. Clear areas are treated as a colour unlocking the full design potential of the stock. A pearlescent seal and UV overgloss complete the process and create sophisticated effects. The design really comes to life when the cards are held up to a window.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- These business cards are silk screen printed on a clear plastic stock, then dried one colour at a time. They are virtually hand made. Utilising a process called Opaque Barrier Technique, clear is treated as a colour to create a myriad of effects. A pearlescent seal and UV overgloss were added to complete the design. The design really comes to life when the cards are held up to a window, just as a stained glass window comes to life with the light shining through.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Stock is clear PVC plastic. Width 55mm x Height 90mm.
- Tags
- Brand Identity, Business Card, Screenprinting, Graphic Design
- Production Technology
- Clear effects were designed into the PVC plastic unlocking the full design potential of the clear base stock. Artwork was formatted using a unique and highly-skilled process that ensures accurate registering of colours, positioning and the sequence of ink layers before film is output. Cards are silk screen printed and dried in racks with each colour pass, embellished with a pearl seal, UV overgloss and then die cut.
- Design Challenge
- The most challenging part of this design activity is the production of the cards. Preparation of the artwork files for film output has to be 100% accurate. The screen printing can be challenging as each colour is printed and dried on a rack before the next colour can be added.
- Project Duration
- Project took 6 weeks from design to production completion. Designed and printed in Auckland, New Zealand.
- Operation Flow
- Designing on a clear substrate means transparent or opaque colours can interact from side A to side B, creating sophisticated effects that traditional paper cards cannot deliver. The substrate will outlast a paper card and have less wear and tear.
- Research
- I researched images as they would be telling the story and evoking emotion. The objective was to capture the feeling of the awe and wonderment you feel when observing stained glass windows backlit by the sun. Although there is no religious message or meaning behind the project, I was looking for strong imagery that would not only showcase our passion for the design and print process, but would invoke a feeling of quiet contemplation, as if the observer was in a cathedral, appreciating the craftsmanship and remembering a loved one.
- Inspiration
- The purpose behind this project The Passion of the Card Leadlight Series, was to illustrate the design capabilities for premium plastic business cards. Evan Reiman was an Entrepreneur and Screen Printer by trade and was taught these printing skills by his Father who was an influential figure in his life, but who had passed away. His Father was one of the last people in New Zealand to complete an apprenticeship for making stained glass windows, so the inspiration for these cards was to honour his memory by creating a special series of cards we felt passionate about.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Aaron Lang, Product Photography
Image #2: Photographer Aaron Lang, Product Photography
Image #3: Photographer Aaron Lang, Product Photography
Image #4: Photographer Aaron Lang, Product Photography
Image #5: Photographer Aaron Lang, Product Photography
Colors of The Passion of the Card Leadlight Series Self Promotion
Design Interview about The Passion of the Card Leadlight Series Self Promotion
The beauty of this project is in the story. Evan Reiman was an Entrepreneur and Screen Printer by trade and was taught these skills by his Father who was an influential figure in his life, but who had passed away. This series was a memorial to Evan’s father who was the last person in New Zealand to complete an apprenticeship in creating lead light windows, so the inspiration was to honour his memory by creating a special series of cards we felt passionate about. Sadly, Evan has now also passed away – so they are now a double memorial and tribute.
To bring a story to life whilst illustrating the design capabilities and technical production excellence. Stained glass windows are beautiful when backlit by the sun and also a unique way to showcase the design and printing process. The design really comes to life when the cards are held up to a window. I researched images as they would be telling the story and evoking emotion. The objective was to capture the feeling of the awe and wonderment you feel when observing stained glass windows backlit by the sun. Although there is no religious message in the project, I was looking for strong imagery that would not only showcase our passion for the cards, but would invoke a feeling of quiet contemplation, as if the observer was in a cathedral, appreciating the craftsmanship and remembering a loved one.
No plans – they are memorial pieces now. The business Flexicon is no longer in existence and I am no longer involved in these products.
Project took 6 weeks from design to production completion.
This design was inspired, not commissioned. It was a combination of memorial and promotion for the business.
I thought the products were beautiful. I had been in 11 years of full-time employment in a design agency when I met Evan and discovered these products. I loved them so much and spent many weekends and late nights helping with their creation, before making the decision to leave agency life and work full-time in the business.
The product was very high-end. The target customers were people who wanted to invest in high quality and unique promotional items and cards for their businesses.
A very high standard of production and the design process involved will be hard to follow, they were virtually hand made. They are silk screen printed on a clear plastic stock utilising a process called Opaque Barrier Technique, clear is treated as a colour to create a myriad of effects unlocking the full design potential of the stock. Artwork was formatted using a unique and highly-skilled process that ensured accurate registering of colours, positioning and the sequence of ink layers before film was output. A pearlescent seal and UV overgloss were added to embellished and complete the design.
‘The Passion of the Card - Lead light Series.’ We were really passionate about the business and the craft. The Lead light part references the memorial tribute to Evan’s father.
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, screen printing film and processes.
I think what made them so unique was that they were virtually hand made and the craftsmanship showed.
We were a small team and everyone was very highly skilled and specialised at every stage of the project.
Technology played a big part in the technical production process. Film work was generated from Mac and Adobe Illustrator.
No, the design is not influenced by any data or analytical research. My research was visually based and I was looking for images to convey the right emotion.
The most challenging part of this design activity was the production of the cards. Preparation of the artwork files for film output had to be 100% accurate. The screen printing could be challenging as each colour was printed and dried on a rack before the next colour could be added.
I was invited to submit. Even though the work is historical, I don’t believe that matters. It was a lovely opportunity to share the story behind the project.
I improved myself by learning new skills about the screen printing trade. I have always had sharp focus when creating packaging technical artwork, but outputting film-work for this process required huge attention to detail.
Not everything we create as designers is about the hard-sell or work we can even charge for. Some are just for passion and good design is timeless.