The process of creating bespoke stationery
Fashions fade, Style is eternal
Yves Saint Laurent
In today’s world, investing in a custom made product is to step away from the standard fashions defined by the market in order to assert one’s unique style. We are all so different ! I’m probably not the only person to eventually settle for “not quite perfect” clothes because there isn’t any other choice… Fortunately, some craftsmen and women still believe in the value of bespoke products and offer great alternatives to the frustrating uniformity of ready-made stuff.
When it come to stationery, there is such a huge choice on the market that I would be incapable to choose “the” design that fully fits my personal style and expectations… Especially with wedding, when the design needs to be approved by two persons and (sometimes) their parents. Selecting an invitation or announcement can quickly become a very stressing headache.
Sometimes, having too many options can be exhausting… And in the case of emotional events such as births or weddings, people often look for something different, more personal, with a deeper meaning. This is when opting for a bespoke invitation design can become very interesting.
Getting to know you
I always start a new design work by trying to get to know my clients a little better through an intensive questionnaire (or questioning 😉 ). What are their personal style, favorite colors, what they like and dislike, the way they met, the way they communicate with each other… As many small clues as I can gather, in order to immerse myself into their world and be able to create a unique design that will fit their wishes perfectly.
Whether we meet in person or via Skype or email, the first contacts are always fascinating for me. The more I learn about the people who trust me, the more I want to create images just for them.
Explore the possibilities
The first meeting often gives me a multitude of ideas, my fingers are tingling and I am dying to get to work. With all the information I gathered in mind, I imagine a series of possible designs, I sketch them up, choose the best ones and end up with three propositions to choose from. After that, the work gets really serious : ideally the first review allows us to pick the best direction to follow, but I sometimes have to go back to the concept stage… Communication is always extremely important to get to the next stage.
Finding the right design and making it very special
Step by step, I learn to recognize the little things that will make the design perfect for someone, and I love finding creative solutions to the small issues that arise. It is strange to see that some people will focus on technical things – such as the place where the paper will fold – and others focus on more obvious details such as colors or layout… In the end, every detail is important and I do everything possible to make sure everyone will love the result.
After finalizing the design it is time for implementation : I so enjoy seeing an idea come to life in the printer’s shop !
It is so nice to see the result of our work in the satisfaction of my clients, so happy to have found a way to express a part of themselves through unique stationery items.
As for me, I am inspired by all their enthusiasm and so proud and grateful to have been able to share a part of myself to help others.
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