Print Design Podcast - How to Win with Print in a Digital World

In this episode I sit down with Michelle McDermott-Pautz, who runs channel marketing for Neenah Paper in North America, to walk through the two-year journey of building a mini cereal box collection that shows off what's possible with Neenah Folding Board.

We get into where the "weird" cereal box idea came from, why nostalgia was the whole point, and how Dallas Franklin brought a cast of illustrated characters to life across four different substrates.

Then we go deep on production: foil stamping, sculpted embossing, white-ink-first passes, the deep black board with no white edges, scented stickers, and the 30 hours of press and bindery checks across three trips to the printer. If you've ever wondered what actually goes into a showstopper print piece, this is the true behind-the-scenes.

In this episode

Why a mini cereal box collection was the right way to showcase folding board, and how the nostalgia angle nearly didn't make the cut

How the characters were designed to lean into each board's attributes, not just sit on a box

Every print technique they threw at it: foil (holographic, red, clear), embossing, debossing, metallic inks, white ink first

The on-press save that mattered: pulling a metallic highlight that disappeared under light and swapping it live

Why scented stickers (and a full cereal bar) turned the launch party into a full-circle experience

What designers can steal from this: emotional connection, shelf presence, and why real, tactile work beats the screen

Want to see it

This piece exists in extremely limited quantities. There's a blog post with expanded photos and the full behind the scenes on the Print Design Academy site, and if you want to get your hands on the collection, head to Neenah's website, use the contact form, and ask who your local rep is.

Print Club Pro Small Group Coaching: The Details

See photos of the collab: The Blog

Come say hi on Instagram @printdesign_academy

Tags: print design, packaging design, folding board, Neenah Paper, foil stamping, substrate selection, print production, nostalgia branding

In this episode, Dave talks with Chris Gajus, Creative Director at Olberding Brand Family, about the packaging for Alberta Distillers Rare Batch that his team helped bring to life.

If you’re a graphic designer or creative director who loves print, packaging, or some sweet sweet embellishments, this episode is for you.

Chris breaks down how they took a very rough starting point and turned it into a full premium packaging system with strong storytelling, structure, and materials. This includes the strategy behind the mountain imagery, the multi-level emboss, using tactile varnish instead of foil, and how they made sure the whiskey glows through the front and back windows on shelf.

You’ll also hear about real considerations designers deal with every day: board weight, coatings, cracking on folds, color matching between substrates, working with vendors, and building files with multiple special-finishes layers. It’s a full look at how design moves from a concept to a finished physical product that pulls people in.

Chris also shares his early print memories (video game boxes and manuals), his first print project in school, and a project that totally fell apart thanks to unclear feedback and direction. If you’ve ever had a client say “I’ll know it when I see it,” you’ll feel right at home.

Things discussed in this episode:

Premium packaging design

Building dielines and structural packaging workflow

Multi-level embossing

Tactile varnish vs. foil stamping

Color matching across substrates

Paperboard weight and packaging durability

Creating shelf presence in liquor and beverage categories

Integrating brand storytelling into print

Working with production, prepress, and color teams

Turning a rough concept into a print-ready, high-end package

Links:

Alberta Distillers Rare Batch case study

Project images + visuals

Oberding Brand Family website

Chris on LinkedIn

Print Design Academy - Where designers learn print and packaging design

This week's guest is Diego Marini. He is a Co-Founder, Creative Director, and Designer from Yummy Colours out of New York. Although he is located in Copenhagen.

Diego loves books. To put it lightly. During client meetings, he's been known to ask "Can't we do a book"? And with a drive like that, he has had the opportunity to help bring some absolute gems to life.

In this episode, we dive into the design, creative direction, and behind-the-scenes production of two beautiful coffee table books. One for Sophy Holland, and the other for the Statue of Liberty. Be sure to check the links below to have a peek.

The Yummy Colours team continues to put together amazing print pieces that help bring their client's goals and visions to life. Legends over there.

Another gem of an episode for the designers and print lovers out there. Check out all the links below!!

Statue of Liberty Book Images: CLICK HERE
Sophy Holland Book Images: CLICK HERE
Yummy Colours Website: CLICK HERE
Yummy Colours Instagram: CLICK HERE

Print Design Mastery 7-day FREE trial Get it HERE.

Print Design Summit Waitlist: SIGN UP HERE

Print Design Academy on YouTube: HERE

My guest on this episode is Tony Diaz from Industry Print Shop out of Austin Texas. If you haven't heard of Industry, where have you been!? I call this episode, story time with Tony.

In this episode, we talk about:

how Industry started and came to be.

how he became "The Merch Guy"

some of the important projects that helped Industry grow.

Flatstock at SXSW and what it meant for Tony.

a workshop at Nike HQ.

print projects that went sideways and what happened.

projects that Tony is the most proud of.

the transition from doing the printing to a business owner leadership role.

tough times in the history of Industry.

what is really fulfilling for Tony in this stage of his life.

and soo soo much more.

Tony is an awesome human and is full of stories that help you to learn from his mistakes, successes, and experiences. You can really feel the genuine joy from him coaching creatives through stories and community.

THE LINKS

Industry Print Shop Website: CLICK HERE

FREE Print Ready Files Checklist: Download here

FREE Craft Beer Label Design Guide: Get it HERE.

Print Design Academy on YouTube: CLICK HERE

International Print Day: CLICK HERE
Print Across America: CLICK HERE

This week's guest is Connie Lui. She is a Partner, Creative Director, and Designer from Yummy Colours out of New York.

I saw an Instagram post that Yummy Colours shared featuring their most recent Concept of the Year print piece, Dear Future. Turns out it was their third year in a row producing the Contept of the Year projects. And we get to hear stories about how all three projects were brought to life.

From the first Issue and why they decided to bring it to life, the second issue and stories of incredible collaboration at scale, to the most recent issue and how the multi-layer unique effects came to life!

Another gem of an episode for the designers and print lovers out there. Check out all the links below!!



Concept of the Year Images: CLICK HERE
Yummy Colours Website: CLICK HERE
Yummy Colours Instagram: CLICK HERE

FREE Craft Beer Label Design Guide: Get it HERE.

FREE Print Ready Files Checklist: Download here

Print Design Academy on YouTube: HERE