21 January 2025

Successfully inspiring the next generation of the print industry

A new collaboration between industry leading organisations and the Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is helping to secure the future of print with the Gen Zs. 

The Creative Print Collab is a partnership between Foilco and Dayfold alongside the cosmetics retailer, Lush. Together with AUB, they are promoting the future of print amongst graphic design students at the university. Thanks to a new module as part of the university’s BA (Hons) Graphic Design course, students must consider how to use tactile, luxury, printed materials to design a creatively printed and packaged finished product for Lush to giveaway during festival season. 

The Creative Print Collab is acting as the voice of the print industry to showcase print, paper, and foiling techniques to a new generation of design students. The Collab aims to engage the next generations through its values of Inspire, Educate, and Innovate. The founding members work in collaboration to support students, helping them to create brand defining moments through tangible experiences and creative solutions.

With five briefs to choose from, the design students were tasked with producing an aesthetically beautiful, creatively printed and packaged toolkit which showcases printing and foiling techniques that bring to life the health, wellbeing, and self-care qualities of some of Lush’s products. The finished product needs to appeal to festival goers who will be keen to receive a box of Lush goodies that will help cleanse their minds, souls and most importantly bodies!

The module started with two intensive hands-on days, during which design students were immersed in the print industry. Dayfold hosted the design students for two days at its Verwood site near Bournemouth, demonstrating a variety of printing and finishing techniques with traditional and digital machinery. This was followed by a full day workshop led by Foilco and G . F Smith at the university, showcasing various foiling and paper solutions to inspire students towards creative print. 

After eight weeks being immersed in the print industry learning various printing and finishing techniques, the 90 first year students submitted their final designs to the award panel in early March. 

At an awards ceremony held on the AUB campus, LUSH and partners from The Creative Print Collab, including Dayfold and Foilco, announced the winners, runners-up, and those shortlisted from more than 90 entries.

The first prize winner was Julia Anderson with her project entitled Mane Memories. Julia is the deserving winner of a LUSH internship and her winning design has been produced by Dayfold using Foilco foils and featuring G . F Smith papers.  

Julia commented, ‘Getting the opportunity to work on a live project with LUSH in our first year has been amazing. It’s been great getting to know The Creative Print Collab companies and the LUSH team and seeing the ins and outs of the print industry.

I've completed my nine-week internship with the Concepts & Collaborations Team at LUSH! It's been the best experience and exceeded all my expectations. I've loved being surrounded by such an amazing group of creative people and learned so much about the company. I had the opportunity to work on a bunch of exciting projects and see how the team works with external partners. Can't wait to see my wellbeing toolkit at Lost Village Festival!’

Second and third place winners received further work experience in the print industry with Dayfold at their Verwood factory plus VIP tickets to Foilco’s Independent Paper Show London which was held in June. There were also several short listers recognised for their innovation and creativity who received prizes from LUSH and the Collab.

Simon Allen, Senior R&D Creative Production Support at LUSH, said, ‘Print is incredibly important to all of us here at LUSH and what better way to support the future of print than by working with our local arts university and industry leads. The students did not disappoint with the level of work that was produced and we look forward to working with many more in the future.’

Creative Print Collab partner, Del Simmons, Managing Director of Dayfold says, “We need to be engaging with the Gen Zs and Gen Alphas to secure the future of the print industry. That’s why we set up the Collab - to show design students that by bringing the physical and digital together using creative print techniques and materials, they can create interactive products that are both beautiful and tactile. Print can bring the senses alive in a way that digital can never do alone. 

“Collaboration between the print industry and educational institutions is crucial in securing our future workforce, as well as to instil a love for the tangible and timeless value of print in generations to come.” 

Marten Simms, Senior Lecturer for Graphic Design at AUB added, ““Experimentation and discovery are important values on this course, as is the ability to communicate across a broad range of media. Being able to offer the design students the opportunity to spend some hands-on time inside a print house and with print industry experts is invaluable. It will really open their eyes to the products and techniques available to them to bring their ideas to life in a finished product.”

Foilco’s Mark Fenton commented, “We want to educate and inspire students in creative print design, and giving them a hands on, tactile experience of the various techniques available in the print industry has really brought their creative vision to life.”

“In addition to the fantastic designs submitted by the students, another real measure of success for us at the Collab was to hear that the AUB saw a 50% increase in student attendance over all taught sessions for this module. In some sessions, it was standing room only!”

“We want to continue to encourage and develop great future talent and promote the print industry as an inspiring, innovative place to work. So, with that in mind, we invite any other brands and organisations who, like LUSH, would be interested in supporting The Creative Print Collab with future cohorts of students. As an industry, we need to work together to invest in people and help shape the future talent of tomorrow.”

Collaborative approaches like this between the print industry and educators will inspire future generations to continue the legacy of print and its invaluable role in connecting the physical and digital.