Mohawk Blog

Fitchburg State University: Contrasting Texture

Words

Mohawk

Photography

Mohawk

August 11, 2017

close-up of typography inside the Fitchburg State book

Pairing dramatically different textures can heighten sophistication and elevate your message, capturing your audiences’ attention through touch.

Have you ever thought about using textures so different from one another that they spark people’s senses as their fingers move from one texture to another?

Fitchburg State University, located in Central Massachusetts, offers quality undergraduate, graduate and continuing education programs that stress career-oriented learning firmly grounded in the liberal arts. For more than a century, Fitchburg State has emphasized small classes, extensive internship opportunities and an accessible faculty dedicated to the student.

An inner page from the Fitchburg State book

Their 2017 viewbook focuses on how the university is defying expectations in their educational programs, the campus environment, and the value provided to their students. In order to become an effective tool in attracting the attention of prospective students, the materials used to print the book were thoughtfully chosen. Flipping from page to page, you’ll encounter three different stocks, all of which provide a different sensory experience in texture and color.

Inside the Fitchburg State book with green background, yellow typography, and monochrome images

Close-up of a black-and-white photograph

The majority of the interior pages are printed on Mohawk Options Navajo Smooth Brilliant White (Beautiful Collection), chosen for its rich smoothness. Glimpses of Mohawk Carnival Vellum Yellow (Expressive Collection) appear in the short sheet outer cover and inside the viewbook, a perfect match to Fitchburg’s brand yellow. Curious Collection Metallics Galvanised (Expressive Collection) was chosen to reflect the determination, edge, and hardworking mentality of the students and community.

Inner view of a spread that uses monochrome pictures and blocks of color

The design team at kor group led by Karen Dendy Smith and Matt Rogers, fully embraced paper and print to deliver an interactive experience and to tell a layered story.

“The design concept is based on visually expressing the new school theme: dig in, delve deep, defy expectations. We intentionally mixed the papers and page lengths to reflect the multiplicity of experiences at Fitchburg State University and printing UV ink on the papers made the colors more vibrant, rich, and consistent”

Matt Rodgers

Fitchburg State University

Close-up of typography and photography inside the book

Client: Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA

Design: kor group, Boston, MA

Printer: Signature Printing, East Providence, RI

Paper Stock: Mohawk Carnival Vellum, Yellow 70 text; Curious Collection Metallics, Galvanised 80 text; Mohawk Options Navajo Smooth, Brilliant White 80 text

Printing: All LED UV Inks used. 4-color process; Match Green, Opaque White, Dense Black and Metallic Ink

Bindery: Saddle Stitched

Tips on how to contrast texture:

Avoid similarities. Find textures that are very different from one another. Otherwise, the shifts in texture may be too similar and go unnoticed.
Strike a balance. Especially when striving for a thoughtful and refined feel, you’ll want to pair loud, eye-catching textures with those that are subtler.
Turn up the volume. If over-the-top, no-holds-barred, undeniable character is what you’re after, then forgo the subtleties and pair two bold textures.

If you’re looking for inspiration, examples, and more tips on how to increase the impact of your next printed project through careful paper selection, click here to learn more and take your work from good to great.

Production Notes

Print Process

Offset Printing

A commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. When used in combination with the lithographic process, which is based on the repulsion of oil and water, the offset technique employs a flat (planographic) image carrier on which the image to be printed obtains ink from ink rollers, while the non-printing area attracts a water-based film (called "fountain solution"), keeping the non-printing areas ink-free.

Ultraviolet (UV) Printing

UV inks produce sharp images because they are cured instantly under UV lights on press. UV printing minimizes dot gain and also eliminates the need for varnish or aqueous coating.

Materials + Techniques

Match Colors

A specified premixed ink color which has been mixed according to a formula. Match colors are more accurate than process colors which use screens and can vary from one print run to the next. Also referred to as a spot color or Pantone® Matching System (PMS).

Bindery

Saddle Stitching

Folded signatures are nested, placed over a "saddle" and stapled together through the center fold with wire staples.

Offset Printing Capabilities

4 Color

CMYK printing uses the four process color inks—cyan, magenta, yellow and black—to reproduce a broad spectrum of colors and tones and is made possible by repeating the halftone process for each color.