“The specs will be the same as last year's job.”
As a printing broker, I love recurring publications, anything from book printing to brochure printing jobs. However, I don't like to make assumptions. So when I read these words recently in an email from a client, I carefully reviewed the specs from last year's job.
I just received a postcard today from a local printer. I happen to know that this commercial printing vendor specializes in multichannel marketing: i.e., helping clients increase their ROI (return on investment) by coordinating multiple channels of information, from offset and digital printing to email blasts and PURLs. They provide solutions. They don't just put ink on paper.
Every so often someone asks me whether they can design their commercial printing projects in MS Word. This is particularly true for staff at large companies in which most people have a copy of MS Word, or for government workers who initially draft their publications in MS Word.
I wrote a blog article a few months ago about a self-published World War II personal history book. I have had some insights as the print book design has progressed, and I thought you might find them useful in your own design work.
For the past few years I have been designing, laying out, and brokering the printing of a non-profit educational foundation directory. For the most part, the process has gone like clockwork. It's good money, and I enjoy working with the organization.
I just read an article about Quark in the 12/26/12 online issue of www.creativepro.com: “Catching Up with Quark” by Jay J. Nelson. I was pleased to see that Quark is still alive and kicking.