A concept for an open-source publication and pattern library that brings a UX mindset to print and prepress. It translates production rules into human-centered guidance, covering trends, repeatable patterns, and best practices - so designers ship printed work that’s readable, accessible, and press-ready.
The concept for uxprint&press started from an idea to bridge a gap that struck me one day. There is plenty of UX guidance for screens, far less for ink, paper, and plates. The publication would curate research, checklists, and templates for real-world workflows - type hierarchy and legibility, grids and spacing, color management, preflight and proofing, trim/bleed/safe areas, file prep, and handoff etiquette. It would be built as a living resource. Articles, printable reference cards, and contribution notes invite collaboration from designers, prepress teams, and print operators. The goal is consistency, shared language, smarter decisions, fewer reprints, and smoother vendor coordination.
Stylistically, the brand is bold and blends neo-grotesque elements, black-and-white minimalism, and the telltale “total orange.” Illustrations and seamless print patterns can also be incorporated to strengthen the message, while strong statements and sleek design concepts would support it. The brand has an opinion, and that's by design.
All in all I envision that treating print like UX pays off in early usability checks (readability, contrast, wayfinding) plus disciplined production steps (preflight, proof cycles) reduce waste and surprises. Standardized templates and checklists shorten turnarounds, while tight feedback loops with prepress partners surface issues before they hit the press.
All those processes were reiterated while doing research for the branding and sparked a deep interest in me. I would really like to see UX translated more into physical production, not just print, but everything around us. So much effort is put into digital that we often leave analog on the back burner. And as Don Norman eloquently shows in "The Design of Everyday Things", there is much to be improved.