What is the future of paper? Will books continue to exist? Will print ever be dead?
The Board and Paper Talks won't provide the answer, but will perhaps bring useful insights of how consumers of the humble and mundane material relate to and value it in an ever changing world. The podcast seeks to consider professionals with diverse backgrounds, practices and experience, and promote a broad discussion about how paper and board are being used, and how their future is envisioned as AI evolves and gets mainstream. Ultimately, the podcast questions where we are collectively heading.
Episode 18 Elin Bergman
Raising awareness on Global Recycling Day 2024 with episode 18 of The Board and Paper Talks. Paper and board was the most recycled packaging material in Europe in 2020, comparing to metal, glass and plastic. Overall, the recycling rate of paper and board was 70,5% in 2022 (source: Monitoring Report 2022, European Paper Recycling Council). Listen to Elin Bergman's comments on this and much more on this episode dedicated to circular economy. While the podcast doesn't stand up for any industry or business, it's important to inform that pulp and paper industry use specific species in their process, and not rainforest wood. It's also relevant to share CEPI's (Confedereation of European Paper Industry) circular economy website (https://sustainability.cepi.org/policy-blocks/circular-economy/), where it is possible to check the industry's sustainability vision, 2050 outlook, good practices and policy (forest, bioeconomy, energy and climate, environment).
Elin Bergman, the ”Circular Economy Queen of Sweden”, is a sustainability expert with over 16 years of experience. With a background in organizations such as WWF and sustainability consultancies, she currently serves as the COO, Vice Chair, and spokesperson for Cradlenet, Sweden's leading business network for circular economy. Elin advises various initiatives and is part of the reference group for the Swedish Delegation for circular economy and the Circular Economy Coalition. In 2018, she co-founded the Nordic Circular Hotspot, a platform that connects and showcases circular economy actors and initiatives in the Nordic region and beyond. Today, the organization has managing partner organizations in all Nordic countries. Elin's expertise has earned her recognition as a LinkedIn top Green Voice, being a keynote speaker on circular economy topics.
Elin Bergman’s profile: https://se.linkedin.com/in/elinbergman
Episode 17 David Pearson
I am excited to have David Pearson sharing his insights and experience with us on this episode. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, David Pearson has had an illustrious career in print and text design. After working for Penguin Books, he established his own studio in 2007, specialising in print design where typography is the principle form of expression. His design work has been recognised by the Guardian, who listed him as one of Britain’s Top 50 Designers, and by Debrett’s, who named him one of Britain’s 500 most influential people. In 2015, David was appointed Royal Designer for Industry, a testament to his outstanding contributions to the field of design.
David Pearson’s website: http://www.typeasimage.com
Episode 16 Erik Simpson
Erik Simpson is an analog and digital humanist. Erik is currently Professor of Humanities and Professor of English at Grinnell College. Erik just created and taught for the first time the course The History and Future of the Book, that we explore on this episode, along with paper as a medium and AI.
Erik Simpson’s website: https://eriksimpson.net
Episode 15 Lotta Maija
Lotta Maija is an illustrator and visual designer from Finland. Her background in textile design has sparked a love of flat-color surfaces and simple shapes, often prominent in her work. Inspired by all things organic and cute, her characteristic aesthetic comes to life in playful fruit and flora illustrations and patterns. Her signature colour palette plays a significant role in her work. Lotta has clients as Petit Pli, Marimekko and Pure Waste. On this episode we talk about Lotta’s creative process, pattern design, fast fashion and much more.
Lotta Maija’s website: https://lottamaija.com
Episode 14 Allison Parrish
Allison Parrish is a computer programmer, poet, and game designer. Allison’s teaching and practice address the unusual phenomena that blossom when language and computers meet. She is an Assistant Arts Professor at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. Allison was named “Best Maker of Poetry Bots” by the Village Voice in 2016, and her zine of computer-generated poems called “Compasses” received an honorary mention in the 2021 Prix Ars Electronica.
Allison Parrish’s website: https://www.decontextualize.com
Episode 13 Matthias Brown
Matthias Brown is an artist focused on animation—TraceLoops is an animation experiment centered around hand-drawn, physical animations and experiments with the creation and perception of motion. Matthias has been working with numerous brands as Converse, NBC, Hyundai, MTV, Purina, Trolli, AXE, Olay, Perrier, A&E, Warby Parker, CNN, The Tate Modern, Sony Music, Ghostly International, Samsung, Infinite Objects, Adidas and others.
TraceLoops’ website: https://www.traceloops.com
Episode 12 Chris Piascik
Chris Piascik is an illustrator by accident, as a result of a daily drawing project that spanned 14 years. Throughout his career he has worked with major clients like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.
Chris Piascik’s website: https://www.chrispiascik.com
Episode 11 Julian Montague
Julian Montague is an artist/graphic designer/illustrator/photographer based in Buffalo, New York. His art work spans a wide range of mediums and approaches, from multi-year conceptual projects to abstract paintings. Julian’s Instagram account was considered one of the 5 art accounts to follow by The New York Times in 2020.
Julian Montague’s website: http://www.montagueprojects.com
Episode 10 Cyrus Highsmith
Cyrus Highsmith is a multi-talented creative who is a letter drawer, teacher, author, and graphic artist. He teaches type design at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and is the author and illustrator of the acclaimed primer Inside Paragraphs: Typographic Fundamentals. He has been recognized with the prestigious Gerrit Noordzij Prize in 2015 for his extraordinary contributions to the fields of type design, typography, and type education. Cyrus founded Occupant Fonts in 2015 and joined Morisawa in 2017 to be the Japanese type company’s Latin alphabet counterpart, becoming Creative Director for Latin Type Development at Morisawa USA.
Occupant Font’s website: https://occupantfonts.com/
Episode 09 Marc David Spengler
Marc David Spengler is a freelance designer, illustrator, and artist based in Stuttgart, Germany. His sketchbooks feature mesmerizing compositions of abstract shapes with bright colors, fake shadows, and optical illusions. From illustration to animation, Marc's work reflects his unique style.
Marc David Spengler’s website: https://marcdavid.studio
Episode 08 David Wolske
David Wolske is a typo/graphic designer, artist, and educator. His creative practice combines in unique and unexpected ways the traditions of letterpress and printmaking with modern digital tools and design thinking. On this episode we talk about how David values paper, the relevance of traditional processes, book art, craftsmanship and type design.
David Wolske’s website: https://davidwolske.xyz
Episode 07 Tiago Galo
Tiago Galo is a Portuguese illustrator and animator based in Lisbon. He started his work as an illustrator before finishing his degree in architecture at Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, by collaborating in small fanzines and exhibitions. Tiago won the prize for best comic at the Portuguese Amadora BD competition in 2011. He returned to his work as an illustrator after some years working as an architect, and was one of the Bologna Children´s Book Fair Illustration Exhibition Winners in 2021.
Tiago Galo’s website: https://tiagogalo.com
Episode 06 Kempe Scanlan
Kempe Scanlan is a gender-forward activewear entrepreneur. Kempe develops user-centered research and data-driven approaches to launch products at the intersection of fashion, prosthetics and technology. This episode goes beyond paper and board, as we also talk about fast fashion, lyocell (a cellulosic fiber used to make textiles), and digital fashion.
Kempe Scanlan’s profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kempe-scanlan-3768ab64
Episode 05 Eliza Redmann
Eliza Redmann creates functional art. A car accident drastically transformed her life, forcing Eliza to leave her career in architecture and create her own business Folded Poetry. We talk about her changed experience of life, her practice as an architect, how this background shapes her current creative path, and how Folded Poetry is important to re-establish Eliza’s health and life purpose.
Eliza Redmann´s website: https://www.foldedpoetry.com
Episode 04 Kim Orr
Kim Orr is a web producer, designer, editor and writer with a passion for educating learners of all ages through digital media and storytelling. Kim works at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and her team K-12 Education Group develops lessons for teachers and students to use in the classroom. Kim’s background is mainly in editing and writing, but she also does a bit of graphic design, illustration, web design, and coding. I met Kim at Kelli Anderson’s (my guest on Ep. 01) Paper Engineering Class, so we talk about the classes, paper and…moon phases, exoplanets, Mars, Saturn and Europa!
Kim Orr at Behance: https://www.behance.net/kimorr
Episode 03 Samuel Matson
Samuel Matson is a designer that works at the intersection of hardware and software. Samuel was part of the team of Google Cardboard, one of the most popular virtual reality products, and on this episode we explore the project from concept to completion. We also talk about his unique approach to product design and insight on technology for mixed reality. Samuel’s products have earned him worldwide recognition, including the Cannes Grand Prix, a spot in the MoMA permanent collection, and millions of users.
Samuel Matson’s website: https://www.samuelmatson.com
Episode 02 Joan Quirós
Joan Quirós is a passionate letterforms enthusiast and independent lettering artist and illustrator based in Valencia, Spain. Joan is specialized in creating unique, custom projects that combine historical lettering traditions with his contemporary perspective and personal background. Joan's skills have enabled him to work with international brands, institutions, and companies to improve their communication with customers through letterforms in advertising, editorial design, packaging, and corporate identity.
Joan Quirós’ website: https://www.joanquiros.com
Episode 01 Kelli Anderson
Kelli Anderson is an innovative and creative artist, designer, animator, and tinkerer who uses her talents to explore the vast potential of everyday materials, namely paper. She has authored books and created projects that range from a pop-up paper planetarium to a paper record player. Anderson believes that low-tech materials like paper can be used to reveal the complex beauty of the world around us, allowing us to experience it in a tactile and meaningful manner. Her work challenges our preconceived notions of what is possible, breaking away from the digital world and its dependence on technology. Nevertheless, Kelli Anderson’s animations that make use of RISO are a good example of the innovative ways that paper and technology can coexist and be combined. Anderson's projects open up a new world of exploration and discovery, inspiring people to think beyond the boundaries of what is expected.
Kelli Anderson’s website: https://kellianderson.com/index.html
Takeo Paper Show “Subtle”: http://subtle.takeopapershow.com/en/