Several years ago, Tina De Souter founded her own business with a focus on book design, graphic design and bookbinding. She did so after a successful test year as a student self-employed. Since then, she has become one of our favorite designers. Someone with drive, passion and exceptional creative talent. High time for a meet-and-greet on a sunny terrace in hometown Mechelen!

Graphic design, book design and bookbinding-why the focus on those three pillars?

‘I am someone who needs variety to stay sharp. In addition, the knowledge of different fields provides many benefits to both myself and my clients. Because I master handbook binding, for example, I understand the anatomy of a book. For customers, that know-how offers enormous added value. Because of my expertise in binding and paper types, I am able to advise them even better. At the same time, I can stay creative in the meantime.

How did you get in touch with Buroform?

“When I was looking for a printing company for my first book ‘Onion,’ a teacher tipped me off to Buroform. At the time, I had a clear vision of what that book should look like. When I visited you the first time to go over everything, I was showered with printing samples and paper samples. Then, with combined forces, we really made something very beautiful out of it. Since then, I have continued to return.

What advice do you give your clients most often?

‘That they can trust me blindly, haha. (laughs) Many customers want control during every step of the printing process: the choice of printing technique, the color palette, the type of linen or paper, you name it. Or they ask for a proof before the book actually goes into print, but such a thing is very expensive. Of course, as a customer, you should have a say. During a collaboration, I always meticulously go over the various possibilities through samples and other examples. Except that each choice remains only one facet within a larger whole. Because of my experience, I see more than just those swatches; I really see the finished book before me. Therefore, the advice: trust me, because I know what it takes to get a great result.

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How do you describe good printing?

‘That’s easy: good printing is printing that does full justice to the content. As a photographer or artist, it must be terrible to receive a design that does not fit your identity at all after all the hard work. I really think of an art or photography book as a printed exhibition. A browsable space where you should be able to experience the work as authentically as possible. Sometimes the content lends itself to a sober, no-nonsense design, but sometimes it may be more intense and colorful. I strive to make each book unique. You as a printing company are also of great value in this, by the way. Because of the know-how available, the personal guidance throughout the process and the passion from paper types, printing techniques and binding methods.’

What evolution do you see in the market for high-quality books?

‘People have said to me before, “Oh, you make art books? Do you really do that as a full-time job?” And then you can see from their facial expression that they wonder how I can make ends meet with such a job (laughs).

You should know: the printed book is not dying out, the market is just shifting. Disposable printed materials such as leaflets and flyers are increasingly being replaced by online advertisements, and novels are being reduced to e-books. But art books remain a kind of calling card for artists because it makes their work tangible. An art book is also much more affordable than a work of art, and because of the high circulation of books, it allows for wider distribution of their work.

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What are your favorite techniques?

‘Binding technique Otabind®: In this binding method, there is an opening between the spine of the book and the spine of the cover. Because of that opening, this softcover binding falls open very nicely.

Binding technique hardcover: This technique has a kind of fanciness that no softcover can match. Only in my world, hardcovers are already used so often that sometimes you stand out better with an original softcover.

Favorite printing technique: hotfoil: I’m really a sucker for hotfoil. I try to foist that on every customer. (laughs) It has been scientifically proven to attract our eyes. Walking past it, the image shimmers in the corners of our eyes, making it seem to move. Fascinating!

For ten years, graphic designer Astrid Vanderborght went through life professionally as Astrid.graphics. Recently that has changed and she reached her creative boiling point under the name Studio Boiler together with a handful of like-minded people. Boiling, building and branding, that’s the motto of this new churning collective. Fireworks insured.

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Hey Astrid, with Studio Boiler you’re breaking new ground. Tell us more about it?

“I worked as Astrid.graphics for 10 years, but lately I noticed it was running out a bit. A new schwung was needed: a different name, a fresh look-and-feel, a whole new vibe. With Studio Boiler, I gather a number of creatives around me, each with their own specialty. Together we are able to build a brand from a to z. That starts with rolling out a brand identity: from logo and corporate identity to tone-of-voice and imagery. In addition, we translate that brand identity into a complete online and offline concept: website, social media, templates, printing, signage, and so on.”

How did you get in touch with Buroform?

“For large-format printing, I have been working with NOOOMI (Naomi Steylaerts) for a long time. She has a very broad network and had recommended Buroform to me in connection with a specific assignment. After that first introduction, I quickly received an invitation to the first edition of Cafe Cliché. Afterwards, I was really completely sold. Buroform thinks with you and does not shy away from any creative challenge. I find it a tremendous value to have our designs printed with you.”

So what makes Buroform stand out for you?

“The huge range of paper and printing techniques. But also the way of working. People help think about how best to translate a design to paper. That is quite exceptional. I notice a strong feel for the living world of graphic designers, which is very nice to experience.”

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What is the importance of good printing to you?

“Actually, it’s very simple: printing can make or crack your design. Beautiful, high-quality printed matter adds undeniable value to your designs. A lot of time and energy goes into every project. A design that comes into its own when printed, that makes me genuinely happy.”

How do you personally experience the relationship between designer and printer?

“I experience that as two-way traffic. You give input on what is possible and new in the printing world. We take that input into our designs. This creates an interesting cross-pollination and you can keep challenging each other. It is precisely this healthy interaction that leads to clever and innovative results.”

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Mechelen-based press photographer David Legrève recently released his first book. ‘Soon Opening’ is his personal account of the past corona year. A unique time document that beautifully captures the entire situation. And we were allowed to print this photo book.

“A week after the first lockdown, I started working on this project,” David Legrève says. “On March 13, the crisis broke out, which obviously affected my daily work. Initially, I was afraid to come in contact with others. I didn’t want to be infected, let alone infect people myself. I quickly took my shots and hurried home. Until I began to realize that the whole situation was very fascinating on a visual level. Typical assignments like photographing a wedding anniversary or a new store suddenly took on a different dimension. Those visible changes I wanted to document. After first closing my eyes out of fear, I suddenly discovered another world.”

Sleeping dog key moment

If you visit the Predikheren in Mechelen today, you can admire a selection of the sculptures. Fourteen photographs will be on display at the city library until Feb. 21, as a preview of the 100-page book. From old folks celebrating an anniversary behind glass to an online birthday party and the decontamination of St. Rombouts Cathedral. + Perhaps one of the most remarkable photos is of a sleeping dog in an abandoned store window.

“This is the key image of the series,” he said. “That peacefully sleeping dog evokes a certain peace, quiet and beauty. At the same time, a certain menace emanates from it: is the animal still alive or not? That negative undertone is typical of the unreality of the crisis. Yet it is this image that freed me from my fear. I was suddenly ready to take more time for my photographs.”

The photographs are an emotive representation of life as it currently is: full of despair, uncertainty, absurdity.

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Buroform may print photo book

And then we got to print David’s photo book! In collaboration with photographer and graphic designer Tina De Souter, who oversaw the entire process from composition to printing. “I am very satisfied with the result and actually with the cooperation in general,” Legrève smiled. “I think the speed and focus with which our questions were answered is a big plus. The book really exudes what I want to say. The cover consists of a rough natural cardboard into which the opening image is punched. In addition, we chose an open spine. You can see the glue and binding, which goes very nicely with the cover image: an unfinished showcase in which the words “soon opening” are written. The combination of that raw and drab image and the artlessness of the book immediately capture the mood I wanted to convey.”

The combination of the raw and drab image and the unaffected look-and-feel of the book immediately captured the mood I wanted to convey.

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Who gets to say it better than our customers themselves? Therefore, we are happy to let them speak wholeheartedly at this place. About themselves and about our printing, because every project is teamwork! Meet Philip Hendrickx of UNIKAVI – Brand Builders, specializing in marketing for the hospitality, hospitality and event sector.

From the birth of the Internet, Philip Hendrickx has been active in the marketing industry. With years of experience, he invariably ensures a creative upgrade of your brand or organization. For star restaurant Zilte by Viki Geunes, located on the top floor of the Antwerp MAS (Museum Aan de Stroom), UNIKAVI provided a total picture: a completely new visual identity both online and offline. After all, the style of communication helps determine the perception of a brand or business. Buroform took care of the printing under the professional supervision of our creative paper & print expert Valérie Maes.

What makes Buroform stand out for you?

“The personal contact, the great choice of materials and the expertise. We were advised throughout the entire process. Buroform is not afraid of custom printing. It creatively shapes our wishes. Challenges are never shunned. Your creative expert Valérie Maes was a rock. Thus, our collaboration ran partly in corona time and as soon as it could, she came right up to our office to explain new modified versions in real life.”

What is the importance of good printing to you?

“Print offers great value in terms of the feel and experience of a business or company. Much is being digitized, but that does not guarantee the same experience. The tangibility of print remains of tremendous importance. Good printing demands to be touched. Feel free to call our joint achievement sensory marketing. The total experience is central to the revamped Zilte and we carried this through into the visual identity.”

How do you see the relationship between you and Buroform?

“Communication and interaction are important. But efficiency is just as important. Ideally, a printer is able to immediately understand what the designer wants to convey in terms of feeling with the printed matter. And also be open to experimentation. That’s where Buroform comes in. I know I can always expect that little bit more.”

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Check out the full case of Zilte.

The total experience is central to the revamped Zilte and we carried this through into the visual identity.

Who gets to say it better than our customers themselves? Therefore, we are happy to let them speak wholeheartedly at this place. About themselves and about us, because every project is teamwork!

Sophisticated, minimalist yet warm. What Studio Posen conjures out of the hat is a feast for the eyes every time. This creative studio is the brainchild of Kristel Posen, an architect by training but professionally grown into a graphic designer. Around her she gathers a multidisciplinary team of creatives and together they put brands on the map. From logo to corporate identity, social media to website and much more. Studio Posen develops everything needed to visualize your story or message and bring it to life.

How did you get in touch with Studio Posen with Buroform?

Studio Posen: “A long time back I had birth announcements printed with you for a client. I was suitably impressed by that. The quality of the printing and foil printing was impressive. When I needed some items for a recent project Labelchic, I didn’t hesitate. I contacted Valérie, who immediately invited me for an interview. “Then you get a much better idea of the possibilities,” it sounded. I found that quite disarming. At a lot of printing companies, orders soon run through mail. That works, too, but you never get as much information and inspiration as during a face-to-face meeting.”

What makes Buroform stand out for you?

Studio Posen: “The warm contact. Buroform really invests in its clients. That personal touch makes you much more likely to return. I now know that I get advice when I knock on your door, that every contact is a new discovery. There is so much knowledge, there are so many opportunities for advice, and everything with a smile. That’s a huge plus.”

What is the importance of good printing to you?

Studio Posen: “The first impression is everything. Print materials help determine the reputation of your brand. When a potential customer gets their hands on your magazine, its quality helps determine how that man or woman will feel about you. Well-crafted printing helps connect with your target audience. It helps to make your message tangible, to give it more power.”

How do you see the relationship between designer and printer?

Studio Posen: “Good printing is simply a necessity for the right perception of your designs. In addition, a good printer fills in the technical knowledge you lack yourself. After my first conversation with Valérie, she arranged for several paper representatives to visit our studio. That way your world expands, you discover new avenues, you learn. I found it fantastic that you took the time to bring those people to me. It’s also initiatives like that that make you stand out as a printing company.”

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Check out the full case of Labelchic, Tache de beauté and Studio Posen.