Perhaps it’s crazy, but when designers start out in this business, a large (and growing) number do not know how to work with a printer. Coming via the side door, I was equally crazy, but determined.

For me, a lack of printing and prepress skills was a problem easily solved. Printers had what I needed, press knowledge and output capabilities. And I had what they needed, a prime client. So, I went looking for a deal. I’d bring all my work to them, in exchange, they’d have their staff babysit until I was comfortable with the concept. A win win. It only took two printers to find one who wanted what I wanted - for me to succeed.

So there you have it, the main reason for the printers section of the Designers Working With Series - printers stepping in to give advice to designers on the subject of printing. Printers hailing from Canada, New Zealand, Thailand and the USA. Your own win win.

A quick recap of the series …

The Designers Working With Series is about getting real people to share opinions on how they work in, or with, the design industry.

Seven short questions were asked of designers, writers, photographers, marketeers, printers and pre press specialists.

1. What are the main points that you’d expect / want designers to know before contacting you about a project?
2. When working with designers, what do you see as the top problem areas?
3. How do you work?
4. How should a company or individual in your profession be chosen?
5. At what point should your profession be brought into a project?
6. How do you charge?
7. How can a designer improve their skills in your industry?

So far we’ve interviewed designers, writers and photographers.

Coming up next will be the introduction of the printers contributing to the series.

As before, if you would like to be included in a series, contact me for details.

until the next
Designers WW,
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