Every product on this planet has a story – from conception to fulfilment
This is how the Utility Studio’s range of Balance paper print products are created and produced…
Step 1
RELAX
Slow your breathing down. Loosen your grip on the pencil. Let it flow.
I draw out the segment shapes in pencil.
I used to start immediately with pen and let mistakes happen and live with some shapes not feeling quite right, allowing those to find their place by fitting other shapes around them. I enjoyed going against the need for perfection, just letting slip ups be, accepting any anomalies and messes, and also having to really focus and find the flow in order to create the lines well from the outset. I changed this practise recently, as the drawings take a long time, and if the overall effect isn’t right due to one or two wayward shapes that could have been corrected had I sketched first in pencil, then this is a waste of materials.
Tools
I use a wire bound sketch book so the pages can lay completely flat. I use sketch books from Seawhite of Brighton. They are spear heading the way in recycled paper products for artists with their latest CupCycling™ sketch books which are hand made in the UK so have a low carbon footprint for me.
I use a Rotring 600 mechanical pencil with an all metal body. Yes, no plastic. It was a gift from my brother and is beautifully weighted. It comes in 0.5mm or 0.7mm.
Step 2
Once I’m satisfied that I have a balanced draft in pencil I’ll switch to pen and trace over the pencil lines. Then comes the filling in. This is usually broken up into several sittings. I rarely start and finish a piece without getting up and moving during it’s production. Sometimes weeks can go by without the piece being worked on. When time allows, it’s picked up and worked on again.
The pad never lies in the same direction, it’s moved and adjusted constantly in order to get the easiest angle for my hand to make smooth lines in the same direction continually.
TOOLS
I use Unipin fine line pens. Unipin appear to be taking their sustainability responsibilities seriously and disclose their efforts to the public on their website here.
Step 3
Once the pen work is completed the artwork is photographed and transferred to a computer. On the computer light levels are adjusted, allowing me to ‘cut out’ the background and change its colour.
TOOLS
Mac mini and Apple Thunderbolt display.
Apple iphone 12.
The use of this tech, which is less than sustainable, is why I choose to give 1% of my revenue to environmental charities and nonprofits. You may have heard of this initiative via the organisation 1% for the planet. I am not a member yet. I still pledge to give 1% to the planet at the end of every business year.
It costs money to be a member of 1% for the planet which allows you to display their logo (accreditation) on your website. At my business year end I will weigh up whether or not to pay to become a member or not. Will it be smart to pay for membership which will align my business with the organisation and expedite sales from conscious buyers? Or is it sending money for admin fees which could be used directly to off set carbon? Decision pending.
Step 4
The final artwork is printed at The Print Space. They are a carbon neutral company. I deliberately drop ship prints so as to save on product travel and therefore keep my print product’s carbon footprint lower than if it were shipped to me first. It is a business risk to not have my prints sent to me first for quality control and signing. Having tested the service I feel confident the quality will be consistent and the authenticity of my artwork can be supplied by The Print Space through limited edition certificates and branded deliveries.
MATERIALS
The paper that the artwork is printed on is on Hahnemühle’s flagship green paper range which only uses resources from sustainable forest management areas. This programme ensures the preservation and protection of biodiversity, the renewal of the forests habitats and decreasing the impacts of exploitation of forest areas for future generations. The paper made at their mills is certified for the traceability of the wood fibres from an origin of non-threatened forests.
You can read more about the paper supplier’s environmental manifesto here.
Step 5
Product fulfilment may be over when the artwork arrives at a customers door, but the product story is not complete if I don’t acknowledge the marketing cost. We can’t ignore that this is also part of a products impact. In its entirety a product’s marketing could include press releases, launch events, social media content production and posting. The energy involved can sometimes outweigh a product’s fulfilment cost.
Utility Studio is using direct marketing and social media accounts to raise brand awareness, all of which generates a carbon footprint which is hard to estimate. At the end of every year when we calculate giving 1% of our turnover to the planet, we will review our marketing efforts and increase that 1% by up to 5% should we deem our energy usage to be higher than expected and in need of more off setting.
If you have any thoughts or feedback on this product’s story please get in touch for a chat via hello@theutility.studio.
