For decades, the Pocket Pal has been the go-to resource on all things print for graphic artists and printers alike. With twenty-one editions in the books, the Pocket Pal established a look and feel that those in the print world had grown accustomed to, which made the task of reimagining this classic print companion even more daring.
Today’s print landscape is worlds away from that of yesterday — graphic artists have more tools, techniques and print devices at their disposal, and printers have a wider variety of ink, paper and finishing choices to elevate the quality and interactivity of print projects.
This is why Sylvamo partnered with students from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to revamp the Pocket Pal in a way that appeals to the next generation of artists, designers and printers.
What's new about this edition of the Pocket Pal?
Two of the biggest changes to the twenty-second edition of the Pocket Pal center on the size and the reformatted layout. The redesign called for a small increase in width and a slight decrease in the height, a tweak that enabled the content to be revised in a way that is easier to navigate and understand.
SCAD graduate student Sneha Nagar was one of the project managers on a team of 12 graphic designers and content creators tasked with refreshing the look and feel of the Pocket Pal. She believes these two decisions played a big part in a holistic rethinking of how to make the Pocket Pal as valuable and handy as possible.
“With the layout, we wanted to make it extremely user-friendly and visually appealing, so we focused on increasing the readability to make the content easier to grasp,” says Nagar. “To make it more relevant to today's generation we eliminated a lot of content on topics like the history of print production, telecommunications or floppy disks.”
Another key part of the redesign was to make the Pocket Pal not just a functional tool but something that is enjoyable to use.
“We also incorporated infographics and other design elements to make sure the information was approachable, not overwhelming,” explains Nagar. “We incorporated foldouts featuring the book's history, folding techniques and printing charts, adding interactive and engaging elements.”
How does the new Pocket Pal pay homage to previous editions?
Nagar and some of her fellow SCAD students didn’t have a ton of familiarity with the Pocket Pal before starting this project — she says many of her professors were very familiar with the resource and hold it in very high regard. Little connection to the Pocket Pal helped Nagar and the team look at the project with fresh eyes, and it made it easier for them to push the boundaries a bit while still respecting the Pocket Pal’s tradition and legacy.
“We wanted to make the Pocket Pal more alive and usable for the next generation of designers and printers,” says Nagar. “I didn’t have any preconceptions about what this new Pocket Pal should be like. I focused on going back to the original Pocket Pal book to truly understand its origin, its evolution and use over the years. I think that gave me a new perspective and take on the project.”
Nagar says she understood the credibility and importance the Pocket Pal has in the print and design world, and she feels the greatest homage this edition pays to previous editions is an emphasis on being informative and relevant. She credits the quality of Accent® Opaque with helping to enhance the readability and ease of use.
“I’m just so excited about how the project turned out,” says Nagar. “What I love about the Pocket Pal is how it came together so seamlessly.”
The twenty-second edition of the Pocket Pal is available now. Get your copy today to see for yourself this modern take on a true classic.
You can also read more about the design process of creating the new Pocket Pal, as well as our full interview with Sneha Nagar, in the latest issue of the DYK Magazine. Subscribe today to get all future issues mailed right to your door.
Karin King is the Commercial Printing Brand Manager for Sylvamo. She is responsible for setting the strategic direction and brand identity of Accent® Opaque, Williamsburg Offset and Springhill® Uncoated Bristols. Karin has worked in the pulp and paper industry for 30 years and holds a degree in science from The Ohio State University.
