I’m an independent print production manager based in Seattle, Washington.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve managed all kinds of offset and relief printing projects at graphic design firms, an advertising agency, and at in-house creative studios. I’ve also had prior involvement in design, branding, messaging, marketing, and print manufacturing.
I especially enjoy high-end print projects such as the dozens of annual reports I’ve print produced. They sit in that sweet spot where my love of book arts, paper, color, words, and craftsmanship meet the commercial product.
The great thing about print management is that every new project presents an opportunity to learn something new—and put into practice lessons learned on previous projects. And believe me, I’ve learned lots of lessons!
Friends have encouraged me to share my expertise and stories “from the field,” and explore a new outlet for my writing. Hence this blog. If my Cautionary Tales and Disaster Avoidance Tips elicit a chuckle of recognition or help you avoid the pitfalls of printing, my work here is done. I look forward to your comments, thoughts, and ideas.
~ Nani
Just say, “Nah-nee Payp!”
12 comments
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April 28, 2009 at 11:01 am
josh
Nani,
I love your site. Great work in fast time. If you ever need a recommendation please let me know and for those out there who might come across this comment,
“Nani is an expert, with the ability to talk to clients, designers and printers. All of her work is of the highest quality and she solves the most difficult problems in a cost effective manner.”
Josh Rubinstein
Interactive Designer
Methodologie, Seattle WA
April 30, 2009 at 11:03 am
naniprints
Glad you like the site, Josh! Thank you for your kind endorsement, too!
May 7, 2009 at 9:48 am
Jamie Bradley
Nani-
Thanks for adding me to your blogroll. You have some great content – it’s clear you’ve seen your share of printing disasters. I look forward to reading more of your updates.
Jamie Bradley
Sophwell
Reading, MA
May 7, 2009 at 2:34 pm
naniprints
You’re welcome, Jamie! I hope folks will check out your blog, you’ve got great info there!
May 16, 2009 at 9:20 am
David Long
Nani:
You are as tangible and real as the precision and passion shown for your craft here in this delightfully informative blog. In a haze of cloud computing and new social media, you gently remind by instruction that communication arts can be well guided by the tactile.
David Long
Torme Design
Marin County, CA
May 16, 2009 at 9:26 am
naniprints
Hello David,
Thank you so much for your kind and gratifying words! You’ve made my day! Please come back again and share your thoughts and ideas. By the way, I took the opportunity to visit your website. Such beautiful work! Mmm, need a print manager there in Marin?
~Nani
May 18, 2009 at 6:30 pm
David Long
Hi Nani:
You certainly would not need to audition! When I work with potential clients, I carry visual aids that stimulate (I hope) what can be achieved in final output. One aid is a comprehensive one-page print spec guide, not intended to overwhelm, but to get manufacturing options immediately on the table. It also opens up a more integrated approach to the entire design process, literally like the brief case that moves your marketing message from end-user to end-user.
David
October 29, 2009 at 9:17 am
Bruce Colthart Creative (@bccreative)
Great blog, great info and in a pleasantly communicating style!
I’ve never worked with an independent production manager before. Can you describe some typical situations where you are typically brought in? Are there typical issues or production knowledge limitations that the involved designers usually have? Perhaps this is not easily answered in a comment, so maybe you’ll elucidate in a post or posts over time.
Keep up the good work.
:: bc ::
October 29, 2009 at 4:55 pm
naniprints
I’m glad you asked, Bruce! I did write a post about this, called “What does a print production manager do?”
It comes down to cost control and vendor persuasion. Many (most?) designers do not have the time or inclination to write the kind of detailed, thorough print specifications that can serve as an air-tight printing contract once the job is awarded. In addition, many are not linear enough thinkers to release the job elements with an organized plan. This can lead to false starts, re-releases of files, and alterations, which add up to more money than you’d planned to spend.
Persuasion is having the time and ability to build the kind of relationship with vendors that gets them to knock themselves out to do the job right and on time. It’s a liaison role that’s a blend of technical, diplomatic, and detail oriented.
As for hiring an independent PPM, I think it really depends on the skill set you’re looking for. Some are print brokers as well, though I am not. Others hire themselves out for long press check stints. Others are hired on contract to be in-house during a busy season, like annual report time. I’ve been hired to advise on print techniques, project planning, paper selection, specs, bids and awards, and coming up with criteria for vendor selection.
Please contact me if I can answer more specific questions, Bruce. ~Nani
May 18, 2009 at 8:09 pm
naniprints
May 18, 2009 at 10:03 pm
David Long
Yes, exactly right (to your question).
And until that day comes when we’re creating images inside pools of jelly and registering them directly on our temporal lobes, bridging the gulf that can exist between graphic designers and printers is equally important. I’m reminded of a press operator’s (true) story, which described a designer who brought in a bag of dirt and asked, “Can you match this?”
David
May 19, 2009 at 10:19 am
naniprints
The bag of dirt story is hilarious, but I can see it happening! I’d like to think that gulf between graphic designers and printers is where a skilled print production manager is still pivotal to a job’s success—I think of myself as translator, liaison, mediator, negotiator and elicitor-of-the-crux-of-the-thing (in both directions). ~Nani