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Published by Dave at Print Design Academy
In a world racing toward AI and screens, print is more valuable than ever. While everyone fights for attention on the same crowded feeds, the designers reaching for paper, ink, and real tactile work are the ones getting noticed and remembered. The Print Design Podcast is about how they pull it off. Each episode digs into the real stories behind great print and packaging, the substrates and techniques that made them work, the problems solved on press, and the impact the finished piece had out in the world. You'll get the behind-the-scenes details, practical tips, and creative thinking that help you make print worth holding onto, and grow your work with it. Hosted by Dave Hopkins, founder of Print Design Academy, where thousands of designers are learning to bring beautiful print to life. If you're a graphic designer who wants to stand out in a digital world by creating things people can actually touch, this one's for you.
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If your design business hit some early growth and then flatlined, this one's for you. In this solo episode I get into the three problems that quietly stall out most freelance designers, your work is invisible, you're underpaid, and clients vanish after one project, and why none of it is a talent problem. It's a visibility problem, and print is the fix for all three. In this episode The three problems keeping freelance designers stuck Why a plateau is almost never a talent problem, and what it actually is How print makes you visible when everyone else is fighting to be seen on the same feeds Earning commission cheques from printers Reselling print work The revenue stack: paid design, commissions, and print resale, and how fast it adds up The first move to make to start growing again Print Club Pro Coaching: CLICK HERE Print Design Academy IG: Click Here
Kierian Cameron is the editor of Brand Cult, the UK's first print-only business newspaper, and it's unlike anything else landing in a mailbox: wax sealed, wrapped in tissue, shipped in an ominous black envelope, and hit with its own custom brand scent. In this one Kierian tells the wild story of how a completely self-taught designer went from substitute teaching in London to building three businesses, and why print became her "third door" into an industry that wouldn't hire her as an intern at 37. We get into the ikigai moment that made her go all-in on design, how she pre-sold 50 subscribers off nothing but a pitch to fund her first print run, and her whole philosophy of building "cult brands" people obsess over. It's a masterclass in networking, persistence, and finding a creative spin on a medium that's been around for hundreds of years. In this episode What Brand Cult is: a wax-sealed, scented, print-only business newspaper built as a full immersive brand world Kierian's career-pivot story, from Hong Kong to London classrooms to self-taught designer The "third door" theory: when the front door and the VIP door are closed, you find the crack nobody else is looking at Why print-only is the whole point, and how she gives founders a reason to step away from the screen Networking and persistence as a business engine: keep following up until they tell you to go away How designing her own newspaper turned into a bespoke newspaper design service for other brands The Links: Print Club Pro - 90-day coaching: Check the Details here Brand Cult Newspaper: Great Print Here Brand Cult IG: Click Here Kierian Cameron LinkedIn: Connect Here Print Design Academy IG: Click Here
Kaye Symington is the CMO of Newspaper Club and co-founder of Glasgow Print Fair. A self-proclaimed "print enabler" rather than a printmaker. In this one we get into how Newspaper Club went from three friends printing what their mates made online to 40 million newspapers and counting, and why newsprint is booming instead of dying. Kaye shares a stack of real stories, including an LA photographer who swapped his ignored email newsletter for a quarterly newspaper and landed a $50k campaign and nearly a Louis Vuitton gig off the back of it. We also get into why print sticks in your brain longer than a screen ever will, how younger designers are falling for newsprint with zero nostalgia attached, and the exact math on why spending $120 on 20 newspapers is one of the smartest moves a designer can make to get noticed. Stop emailing PDFs nobody opens and make something that lands on the desk and won't get ignored. In this episode What Newspaper Club is, and the "print what your friends made on the internet" origin story that became 40 million newspapers Why "newspapers are dead" was always a myth, and how AI made everyone suddenly notice print again The LA photographer who turned a quarterly newspaper into a $50k campaign The real cost math: why $120 for 20 newspapers beats another ignored PDF portfolio every time How designers are using newsprint as a portfolio that actually sticks around on people's desks Why print is multi-sensory and memorable in a way a screen just can't match Print-first thinking: design for the newspaper, then spin it into your social, blog, and audio content The Links: Print Club Pro - 90-day coaching: Check the Details here Newspaper Club: Great Print Here Newspaper Club IG: Click Here Kaye Symington IG: Click Here Kaye LinkedIn: Connect Here Print Design Academy IG: Click Here
Laura-Jane Boast has run her Manchester studio Conscious Made for 12 years, and it's basically all print. In this episode she gets into how she niched hard into color, material, and finish (CMF for short) and turned a straight-up obsession with foils, papers, and print into a business that more than pays the bills designing for clients all over the world. That includes a recent Coachella project she then stalked across a hundred fan videos on TikTok, because once it's out there, watching people freak out over it is half the fun. We also get real about the money. Why the safe "middle budget" client has basically vanished, and how Laura learned to walk away from the pretty jobs that look great but pay nothing. We dig into the feedback loop print gives you that a website never will, why the analog comeback is booming while everyone drowns in screens and AI. She wraps up with the best kind of advice for anyone trying to break in: go local, keep it small, stop emailing PDFs nobody opens, and just make something real. In this episode What CMF (color, material, finish) actually means and how niching into it built Laura's whole business Why print is paying the bills: the honest conversation about making a real living in the print space How the "middle budget" disappeared, and why walking away from low-value jobs protects your creativity The feedback loop designers miss in digital work, and why print keeps giving back long after it ships How to break into print with no experience: start local, start small, start with a business you actually care about Laura's Website: https://www.consciousmade.co.uk/ Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lboast/ Laura on IG: https://www.instagram.com/LauraBoast Conscious Made on IG: https://www.instagram.com/conscious.made/ Print Club Pro Coaching - Details and Application: The Details Come say hi on Instagram @printdesign_academy
Dora Drimalas, co-founder of San Francisco studio Hybrid Design, spent years (on and off, over a decade) building a 640-page case-bound monster of a book, and in this episode she walks me through every nerdy detail of how it came to life. We get into the production specs (CMYK plus silver and fluorescent orange spots, sealed ribbon bookmarks synced to digitally printed edge painting, black and white editions), the publishing decision to go with Victionary instead of self-publishing, and how they managed over 400 contributors who each needed legal clearance. Dora also shares her journey through the world of design that included Nike, and then founding Hybrid Design. In this episode Why Hybrid built a book that's a "survival manual for design," not just a portfolio flex The full spec breakdown: 640 pages, two spot colors, edge painting as a nod to traditional marbling, and ribbons that sync to those edge colors Self-publishing vs. going with a real publisher, and why that validation and distribution mattered What it's like to proof a 640-page book for six months and still keep finding errors The legal reality of 400+ contributors and why most studios avoid books like this How locking the grid and templates early made the design the easy part and the content the focus Why a printed piece beats a PDF every time when you're trying to get noticed, and how to start small (a zine, postcards, a saddle-stitched book) Buy the book here: Buy the Book Learn more about the book here: The Blog Check out Hybrid Design: The Website Follow Hybrid Design @hybriddesignsf Print Club Pro Coaching Details and Application: The Details Come say hi on Instagram @printdesign_academy Tags: print design, book design, studio book, Hybrid Design, edge painting, print production, graphic design career, getting noticed as a designer
In this episode I sit down with Michelle McDermott-Pautz, who runs channel marketing for Neenah Paper in North America, to walk through the two-year journey of building a mini cereal box collection that shows off what's possible with Neenah Folding Board. We get into where the "weird" cereal box idea came from, why nostalgia was the whole point, and how Dallas Franklin brought a cast of illustrated characters to life across four different substrates. Then we go deep on production: foil stamping, sculpted embossing, white-ink-first passes, the deep black board with no white edges, scented stickers, and the 30 hours of press and bindery checks across three trips to the printer. If you've ever wondered what actually goes into a showstopper print piece, this is the true behind-the-scenes. In this episode Why a mini cereal box collection was the right way to showcase folding board, and how the nostalgia angle nearly didn't make the cut How the characters were designed to lean into each board's attributes, not just sit on a box Every print technique they threw at it: foil (holographic, red, clear), embossing, debossing, metallic inks, white ink first The on-press save that mattered: pulling a metallic highlight that disappeared under light and swapping it live Why scented stickers (and a full cereal bar) turned the launch party into a full-circle experience What designers can steal from this: emotional connection, shelf presence, and why real, tactile work beats the screen Want to see it This piece exists in extremely limited quantities. There's a blog post with expanded photos and the full behind the scenes on the Print Design Academy site, and if you want to get your hands on the collection, head to Neenah's website, use the contact form, and ask who your local rep is. Print Club Pro Small Group Coaching: The Details See photos of the collab: The Blog Come say hi on Instagram @printdesign_academy Tags: print design, packaging design, folding board, Neenah Paper, foil stamping, substrate selection, print production, nostalgia branding
In this episode, Dave talks with Chris Gajus, Creative Director at Olberding Brand Family, about the packaging for Alberta Distillers Rare Batch that his team helped bring to life. If you’re a graphic designer or creative director who loves print, packaging, or some sweet sweet embellishments, this episode is for you. Chris breaks down how they took a very rough starting point and turned it into a full premium packaging system with strong storytelling, structure, and materials. This includes the strategy behind the mountain imagery, the multi-level emboss, using tactile varnish instead of foil, and how they made sure the whiskey glows through the front and back windows on shelf. You’ll also hear about real considerations designers deal with every day: board weight, coatings, cracking on folds, color matching between substrates, working with vendors, and building files with multiple special-finishes layers. It’s a full look at how design moves from a concept to a finished physical product that pulls people in. Chris also shares his early print memories (video game boxes and manuals), his first print project in school, and a project that totally fell apart thanks to unclear feedback and direction. If you’ve ever had a client say “I’ll know it when I see it,” you’ll feel right at home. Things discussed in this episode: Premium packaging design Building dielines and structural packaging workflow Multi-level embossing Tactile varnish vs. foil stamping Color matching across substrates Paperboard weight and packaging durability Creating shelf presence in liquor and beverage categories Integrating brand storytelling into print Working with production, prepress, and color teams Turning a rough concept into a print-ready, high-end package Links: Alberta Distillers Rare Batch case study Project images + visuals Oberding Brand Family website Chris on LinkedIn Print Design Academy - Where designers learn print and packaging design
This week's guest is Diego Marini. He is a Co-Founder, Creative Director, and Designer from Yummy Colours out of New York. Although he is located in Copenhagen. Diego loves books. To put it lightly. During client meetings, he's been known to ask "Can't we do a book"? And with a drive like that, he has had the opportunity to help bring some absolute gems to life. In this episode, we dive into the design, creative direction, and behind-the-scenes production of two beautiful coffee table books. One for Sophy Holland, and the other for the Statue of Liberty. Be sure to check the links below to have a peek. The Yummy Colours team continues to put together amazing print pieces that help bring their client's goals and visions to life. Legends over there. Another gem of an episode for the designers and print lovers out there. Check out all the links below!! Statue of Liberty Book Images: CLICK HERE Sophy Holland Book Images: CLICK HERE Yummy Colours Website: CLICK HERE Yummy Colours Instagram: CLICK HERE Print Design Mastery 7-day FREE trial Get it HERE. Print Design Summit Waitlist: SIGN UP HERE Print Design Academy on YouTube: HERE
My guest on this episode is Tony Diaz from Industry Print Shop out of Austin Texas. If you haven't heard of Industry, where have you been!? I call this episode, story time with Tony. In this episode, we talk about: how Industry started and came to be. how he became "The Merch Guy" some of the important projects that helped Industry grow. Flatstock at SXSW and what it meant for Tony. a workshop at Nike HQ. print projects that went sideways and what happened. projects that Tony is the most proud of. the transition from doing the printing to a business owner leadership role. tough times in the history of Industry. what is really fulfilling for Tony in this stage of his life. and soo soo much more. Tony is an awesome human and is full of stories that help you to learn from his mistakes, successes, and experiences. You can really feel the genuine joy from him coaching creatives through stories and community. THE LINKS Industry Print Shop Website: CLICK HERE FREE Print Ready Files Checklist: Download here FREE Craft Beer Label Design Guide: Get it HERE. Print Design Academy on YouTube: CLICK HERE International Print Day: CLICK HERE Print Across America: CLICK HERE
This week's guest is Connie Lui. She is a Partner, Creative Director, and Designer from Yummy Colours out of New York. I saw an Instagram post that Yummy Colours shared featuring their most recent Concept of the Year print piece, Dear Future. Turns out it was their third year in a row producing the Contept of the Year projects. And we get to hear stories about how all three projects were brought to life. From the first Issue and why they decided to bring it to life, the second issue and stories of incredible collaboration at scale, to the most recent issue and how the multi-layer unique effects came to life! Another gem of an episode for the designers and print lovers out there. Check out all the links below!! Concept of the Year Images: CLICK HERE Yummy Colours Website: CLICK HERE Yummy Colours Instagram: CLICK HERE FREE Craft Beer Label Design Guide: Get it HERE. FREE Print Ready Files Checklist: Download here Print Design Academy on YouTube: HERE
A rare solo episode with Dave Hopkins, Founder of Print Design Academy and host of the Print Design Podcast. They say we are in a recession and it is going to get worse...so what can you do so that it sucks less? After seeing what happened in the design and print worlds during Covid, I have put together 3 things I think ALL Graphic Designers should do to prepare for any sort of economic uncertainty. FREE DOWNLOAD HERE - Print Ready Files Checklist Learn Print Design on YouTube HERE
This episode features us, Dave and Gabby, breaking down the Print Design Summit. We share our expectations, actual results, our wins, our fails, lessons learned, how we feel it went, and answer the big question...will there be a Print Design Summit in 2024? FREE Guide to Craft Beer Label Design: Download it here FREE Print Ready Files Checklist: Download here Learn Print Design on YouTube: Watch HERE
This week's guest is Jonny Black from TOOOT. Also known as The Office of Ordinary Things out of San Francisco California. This episode is literally years in the making. So you better like it. Kidding, I know you will. During this episode, we are doing a deep dive into the D+K Printing promotional project. This project is an experience. It's got great print, textures, and tear strips to please your need to play with things. We also talk about Apple Packaging, Sustainability, and Granola Packaging project from Jonny's early design days. This is a fun one! TOOOT on IG: HERE TOOOT Website: HERE FREE Craft Beer Label Design Guide: Get it HERE. FREE Print Ready Files Checklist: Download here Print Design Academy on YouTube: HERE
This week's guest is Mackenzie Brookshire. She is the Creative Director from Landscape out of Oakland, CA. @thisislandscape During this episode, we talk about drawing sunshines, Koolaid points, Cereal Packaging, and more! Our deep dive is into a project she worked on for Cookma, a meal delivery service and product line for growing families. The print and packaging they created is bright, welcoming, and just makes you feel good when you see it. Really enjoyed this conversation with Mackenzie and I know you will too. THE LINKS: Landscape Website Landscape Instagram Cookma - Design Work DOG - A project space Print Design Summit - Get Front of the Line HERE Print Design Academy YouTube Print Design Academy Instagram FREE Print Ready Files Checklist Print Design Mastery - Learn to be an expert at print design - CLICK HERE
This week's guest is Dan Gretta. He is a designer and illustrator who has been putting out incredibly detailed work for Cigar Bands, Cigar Packaging, high-end spirits, and more. During this episode we are doing a deep dive into his work for Dapper Cigars which includes cigar bands, packaging, and cigar branding. I dabble in the Cigar world and I have always loved the intricate designs of the printed cigar bands and all cigar packaging. It really enhances the whole Cigar experience. So I was so excited to connect with Dan and learn more about this Cigar packaging world, and bring that information to you! Dan is a great guy to talk to and I know you will enjoy this chat! Oh, we also talk about X-Men action figures. @dangrettadesign THE LINKS: Dan Gretta Design Website Dan Gretta Design Instagram Dapper Cigar Design Work El Borracho Dapper Cigar Design Work Union Break Print Design Summit - Get Front of the Line HERE Print Design Academy YouTube Print Design Academy Instagram FREE Print Ready Files Checklist Print Design Mastery - Learn to be an expert at print design - CLICK HERE
This week's guest is Gene Portnoy. He is the talented creative behind Work and Company. @genepdesign @workandcompany We did things a little bit differently on this episode. It's a couple of mini conversations put into one. When we first spoke, the project we were talking about was literally at the printers. Like "photos sent of the press sheet that morning" at the printers. A few weeks later we were able to connect for a wrap-up conversation once he had received his samples and his client had some feedback. Awesome! The deep dive for this episode is all about the Full Bloom Cannabis packaging project. We talk about the details and story that went into the packaging, the design system created across multiple pieces, as well as the details behind getting things ready for production. Gene is a very talented designer and creative problem solver and makes for a great conversation. I know you'll dig this one. THE LINKS: Work and Company Website Gene Portnoy Instagram Work and Company Instagram Print Design Summit - Get Front of the Line HERE Print Design Academy YouTube Print Design Academy Instagram FREE Print Ready Files Checklist Print Design Mastery - Learn to be an expert at print design - CLICK HERE
This week's guest is Julie Brannen, she is the Director of Sustainability at Monadnock Paper out of New Hampshire. Monadnock is all about Sustainability in the manufacturing of their uncoated papers. @monadnock_paper They also just released a new swatch book for their Astrolite PC 100 papers. Which you guessed...are 100% Post Consumer recycled. During this episode, we also talk about Julie's unique path to the Paper and print world. She shares some interesting stuff on Gatorade Marketing Printed Collateral, working with global shoe brands, and the story of the Monadnock paper mill. If you are into paper, this episode is for you. If you aren't into paper, you really should be, and this episode is still for you. THE LINKS: Monadnock Paper Website Monadnock Paper Astrolite PC 100 Monadnock Instagram Print Design Summit - Get Front of the Line HERE Print Design Academy YouTube Print Design Academy Instagram FREE Print Ready Files Checklist Print Design Mastery - Learn to be an expert at print design - CLICK HERE
This week's guests are Ron and Mackenzie from Macaroni Creative. This is their second time on the show chatting about awesome packaging they had created and put out in the world. During this interview, we talk about Hot Dogs and Sausages. But also Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) packaging. Our deep dive is all about the Millers Craft Meats rebrand. This covers logos, collateral, packaging, and more. But we are here to chat about the packaging and how they made it all work on different substrates and different products. This was a great conversation from some absolute pros in the CPG and beyond design space. @macaroni_creative THE LINKS: Macaroni Creative Website Millers Craft Meats Project Macaroni Instagram Print Design Academy YouTube Print Design Academy Instagram FREE Print Ready Files Checklist Print Design Mastery - Learn to be an expert at print design - CLICK HERE
This weeks guest is Sam O'Brien. He is a Graphic Designer and owner of Sample Co. out of Austin Texas. @sample_co During this interview, we talk about how he got into the design game, awesome FOSSIL Watch Packaging, and a book put out by Lyft for their Scooter rental service teaching you proper Scootiquette. Our deep dive is into a brand book he created for Criquet, an awesome apparel company with an amazing personality that totally comes through in this print piece. The book is a guide to living comfortably off the course. As soon as I saw it on Instagram I had to reach out and get him on the show to share the story. THE LINKS: Sample Co Website Criquet Print Project Sample Co Instagram Print Design Academy YouTube Print Design Academy Instagram FREE Print Ready Files Checklist Print Design Mastery - Learn to be an expert at print design - CLICK HERE
This weeks guest is Paul Haggerty. He is a Graphic Designer, Illustrator, and Art Director out of Pittsburg PA. @paul_haggerty During this episode, we talk about some of the projects he has come across and worked on over is 10+ year design career. Packaging and Merch. Dicks Sporting Goods. Album Artwork. and more.. But our project deep dive is for the Smokers Section Journal. This amazing piece was created to document your cannabis journey through different strains and smoking methods. It was Riso printed by the amazing crew over at @risolve Riso printing was the perfect way to produce this one. This was a great conversation that I know you will enjoy! THE LINKS: Paul Haggerty Website Paul Haggerty Instagram Smokers Section Website Smokers Section Instagram Risolve Studio Website Print Design Academy YouTube Print Design Academy Instagram FREE Print Ready Files Checklist Print Design Mastery - Learn to be an expert at print design - CLICK HERE
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Observed September 16, 2026. Cached outside the daily freshness window; the positions keep the date they were taken on.
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