You get a great feeling of pride when you see your work appearing in a book. It’s like that nice feeling you got when your Mum put that picture you did at school on the fridge for all the family and relatives to see. I knew when I received my copy of ‘Touch this, Graphic Design that feels good’, that I had a piece inside it… it was only when I flicked through the pages that I was amazed to see three pieces of work I did with my then Art Director, Simon Rowlands, had been chosen to appear in this fabulous book.

Compiled by Designer Scott Witham, who has worked for global clients including Sony, Virgin, Orange and the Royal Bank of Scotland, ‘Touch this, Graphic Design that feels good’ features intriguing projects that incorporate a gamut of “you can’t print on that” materials, including pleated, Issey Miyake type forms and razor-thin metal business cards; X-ray film; heat-sensitive inks; ceramic tiles; and carpet samples. In short, there are design solutions in this book that use any and everything, except plain paper.

So in amongst the other great pieces of design, you’ll find a tin wrestled from the jaws of a shark that was hand-crafted with tools from B&Q on the back stairs of the agency by myself, Simon and a student. A mini bin with a piece of paper that could very well bring you to tears… and a paper bag for putting over your head because the paper makes everything look good!

The whole purpose of this book though is to highlight that design on nontraditional materials attracts both designers and consumers. The subject fascinates consumers because they recognize that unique materials can be difficult to engineer and incorporate, and thus tactile design nearly always becomes coveted and collectible. Moreover, the designer who can get a consumer to interact with a product, whether it’s a brochure or a package, increases the chance of making a memorable connection and, even better yet, a sale.

In today’s high-tech, virtual world, where things exist, but then again they don’t, people are drawn irresistibly to “touch-friendly” designs. It’s little wonder that graphic design using unusual materials that call out to be touched get noticed and build image like no others.

And that’s what you’ll find on every page in this week’s book in reception.

Tags: 3 Dimensional Packaging Design, Advertising, Advertising Design, Award-Winning Design, Brand Marketing Agency, Creative Concepts, Design, Designers, Direct Mail Packs, Direct Marketing Agency, Graphic Design, Innovative Design, Julian Gratton, Scott Witham, Simon Rowlands, Touch this Graphic Design that feels good

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