Alex Charchar from RetinArt has just written a fantastic article for Jacob Cass’s ‘Just Creative Design’ blog in which he talks about the key role paper plays in the design process. He cites Dumbo feather as an example of how paper can be “warm and soft” and “can help set a mood and feeling in your audience before a single word is read or a fraction of an image absorbed.” We couldn’t agree more.
When we began the process of designing Dumbo feather we developed a set of characteristics we wanted it to embody - amongst them were intimacy, authenticity, quality and respect for the environment. When making each and every decision in the design process, we’d come back to these characteristics. They meant that the paper stock had to be of a good weight (and quality - it had to last and feel valued/treasured), couldn’t be glossy (because Df’s not about the ‘glossy PR’ version of the story, but the real authentic one - warts ‘n’ all) and had to be matt and uncoated, and had to have the least impact possible on the environment (hence the 100% post-consumer recycled stock and soy-based inks).