Leonardo Cockburn

GF Smith – rebranding a legacy

gf smith

If you have worked as a graphic designer in the UK, you'll rcognise the name - GF Smith, make of high-quality specialist paper stocks. As we're also paper people, when GF Smith undertook a rebrand earlier this year, the results naturally caught our eye. GF Smith - rebranding a legacy The challenge in rebranding any long-established business, such as GF Smith, one of the world’s oldest paper specialists, is the responsibility that comes with all that legacy. Add to this—the weight of knowing that, in the case of this particular client, your work is going to be seen and judged by most of...

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Damaged Goods Distilling Co Labels

damaged goods

  Western Australian Distillery Damaged Goods Distilling Co. are on a mission to prove that spirits made with imperfect ingredients don't have to be anything less than perfect... GSM takes a look at this unique brand and their eye-catching label designs... From odds and ends After working in restaurants and bars for a big chunk of their lives, Tim Laferla and Pia Papenfuss were intimately familiar with the vast amount of fresh produce sent to landfill every day by the hospitality sector—peels, pulp, stalks, odds and ends. Something about this didn’t sit right with the duo, who mulled this over and then saw an...

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The Bespoke Print Process of Letterpress

letterpress

  In this educational article we take a look at the bespoke printing process of Letterpress.  A brief history Letterpress is a form of relief printing dating back to the 1450s, when German-born Johann Gutenberg famously printed 180 copies of the Bible on his new invention. The moveable type ‘letter-press’. This invention directly led to the spread of mass produced books, eventually leading to universal literacy and profound social change. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest inventions in history. For over five hundred years, letterpress was the dominant form of mass printing, until superseded in the 1950s by offset lithography.  Galley...

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Career pathways in the print industry

career print industry

What are the career pathways for young people thinking about getting into print? We recently caught up with Sonia Dench, GM at Spectrum Print, to glean her thoughts on the topic... It’s no secret that print has experienced some challenges in recent times. Many of us had to rally to re-establish connections and stay relevant post-COVID, dealing with it’s fallout on our businesses and that of our customers. However, as part of navigating this, we are experiencing a new and unexpected challenge—people. More specifically, where are the young people wanting to enter the world of print? And how do we entice them into the industry?...

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The Message Stick – Pauly Vandenbergh of Munda Wines

Munda Wines

Munda is the Wirangu and Kokatha word for land - “It’s our mother, our provider. If you look after munda, it’ll look after you.” Munda Wines is an Aboriginal-owned wine company founded on deep cultural values and grounded in Country. Director and Co-Founder Pauly Vandenbergh, a proud Wirangu and Kokatha man, shares how he’s rewriting the narrative of wine in Australia — with integrity, purpose, and place at its heart.   More Than Terroir Munda is the Wirangu and Kokatha word for land — and pre-dates the French notion of terroir by over 65,000 years. “We don’t believe you can...

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Rakau Korero Māori Design

maori architect

In this instalment we talk to architect Jade Kake about design from a Māori perspective, and provide some tips for positive collaborations between Māori and non-Māori. In GSM23, we featured BEST purple winning project; Rewi: Ata haerre, kia tere. A book celebrating the work of Māori architect Rewi Thompson. Following on from this, we reached out to author of the book, Jade Kake, architect and housing advocate. We asked Jade for her thoughts around design from a Māori perspective. Whilst her thoughts centre around the built-form, much of this can easily be applied to visual communication. Here’s what Jade had to offer… Kia ora...

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Sculpt by Studio Ok-Ok

Studio Ok-Ok

Now and then, a project comes cross our desk that really jumps out. Whenthis exquisite coloured card package turned up at GSM we knew we needed to show it. Here is Sculpt by Studio Ok-Ok. Sculpt - a cosmetic studio with a difference Based in Adelaide’s inner east, Sculpt is a cosmetic studio with a difference. Welcoming all body types, tones, genders and maturities, and offering an approach grounded in rejuvenation that goes beyond the aesthetic. Treatment services, backed by progressive technologies, encourage physical and mental wellbeing to help restore confidence towards one’s skin. A welcome change in an industry often focussed on...

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The good folks at Dow Goodfolk

Dow Goodfolk

Annie and Greg Dow, and the team at Dow Goodfolk and Brother Design, have been instrumental in shaping many of the most recognised fast-moving comsumer brands in Aotearoa New Zealand. Sadly, Greg passed away in 2007. Displaying remarkable fortitude, Annie pushed forward, becoming a pre-eminent figure in the NZ design scene. Her mantra, 'Design delivers value' is the stuff of legends. An early intro into the world of advertising The year was 1964, and like many British migrant families before them, the Leggett family sailed from the UK to Auckland, drawn by the possibilities of new opportunities. Annie was three.  Annie’s father,...

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Rebrand & New Label for Outcask Wild Rum

outcask

Recently, Karu Distillery undertook a significant brand refresh for its Outcask Wild Rum. Originally, it had been released in a bit of a rush, and wasn't feeling 'quite us'. GSM takes a look... Karu Distillery, launched in 2018 by husband-and-wife team Nick and Ally, is an up-and-coming Australian brand known for its innovative spirits that blend traditional distilling with a modern sensibility. Located in the Devils Wilderness, NSW, the range has grown to include Affinity Gin, Lightning Navy Strength Gin, Morita Chipotle Vodka, and Outcask Wild Rum. As one of Australia’s most awarded distilleries, Karu is celebrated for its passion...

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Best & AGDA Design Awards: Class of 24

Best award 24

2024 was another year of stellar entries in the national design awards in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. GSM takes a look at two award-winning print-based entries. The Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) Design Awards and the BEST Awards (hosted by the Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ)) are the two premier annual award events recognising excellence in design in our part of the world. And, thanks to some forward-thinking people within these organisations, entries are open to studios on either side of the Tasman. Both events include a wide range of entry categories across the visual design spectrum....

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