The Dorset firm organised an event at the Union Jack Club in London earlier this week, that brought together a raft of suppliers and service providers, along with educators.
Dayfold managing director Del Simmons said that while there was obviously a place for generic print, parts of the industry were suffering from “a lack of creativity and a race to the bottom”.
“On graphic arts courses there’s no print training anymore,” he explained.
“We work with the Arts University Bournemouth to show students techniques like foiling, white ink and creative ideas about what delivers impact and ROI.
“It’s really important because there are people buying print that can’t actually buy an impactful piece of print because they don’t know how to.”
Dr Phil Jones of Arts University Bournemouth was among the speakers at the event, which also included representatives from the BPIF and IPIA, GF Smith, Heidelberg, HP, Duplo, Foilco and UEI Falcontec.
Dayfold’s Stephen Dando, a past winner of Printweek’s Trainee of the Year Award, also attended.
The Dayfold team took pictures of attendees on arrival, with the images sent back to its factory near Ringwood to be turned into packs of cards, which were printed, finished, and delivered back to the venue later in the day.
The business offers litho and digital printing, foiling and embossing, and extensive in-house finishing.
“It showed that print can be creative and quick – we can do these things!” Simmons added.
“The more creative print there is around, the better it is for everyone. If we combine our efforts as a collaboration, we've got an opportunity.”
Dayfold is working on bringing a design business on board as it works on the next steps, including a video from the event and manifesto.
