Company Overview: Holly Tienken is a Jersey City based designer/creative director with over 20 years of experience specializing in branding for the hospitality market (restaurant and hotel), residential and commercial developments, packaging, print collateral and art direction for the web.
Problem: Designer/creative director Holly Tienken’s client needed presentation folders in a hurry, and they had to be just right.
Story: Tienken was working with a real estate client on a brand identity project and was creating branded real estate folders for the leasing office of their new building. She needed the perfect folders and she needed them quickly. Having previously worked with Company Folders, Inc., she knew she could count on their folder specialists to get it exactly right.
“I had used Company Folders for a project a bit over two years ago and the work was perfect. When this project came to life, I knew I wanted to use Company Folders again,” said Tienken. “In addition to the stellar production quality and personal attention from the customer support team, next is the variety of paper stock, finishes and folder configurations that are available. When you work with a printer that specializes in a field it makes a big difference—being able to select a paper stock and weight to compliment your design aesthetic is just one of them. There are plenty of online quick printers that can do a basic folder with quick digital printing, but they are nowhere near the quality as Company Folders and actual ink on paper.”
This expert designer knew exactly what she wanted to represent her client’s brand and their mission to celebrate and build the Jersey City community.
“There are plenty of online quick printers that can do a basic folder with quick digital printing, but they are nowhere near the quality as Company Folders and actual ink on paper.”
– Holly Tienken, designer/creative director
“Brothers Paul and Eric Silverman looked to the history of the neighborhood for inspiration with naming. Between 1885 and the 1940s, stables for the company Swift & Co. occupied the space at 220 Ninth Street. During the development of the Swift & Co. identity design, extensive research was done with the help of the Jersey City Library, using their historic maps collection,” said Tienken. “The color palette and typographic style were influenced by these beautiful documents. The folder design uses elements both old and new. The back of the folder uses a duotone of one of the old maps. The interior uses a duotone of the new architectural elevation drawing of the building.”
Having chosen folder printing experts she knew could deliver high-quality execution of her design, Tienken went online to get a quote for the project.
“I had received several quotes using the online quote tool (so helpful!). Then I contacted the customer support team to talk through what the best option was for our time frame and specs. They explained the options clearly and we arrived at a great solution both for their production needs and for our deadline,” said Tienken.
“Since she knew exactly what she wanted, it was easy for us to direct her toward the right stock and production methods,” said Company Folders, Inc. Print Project Director Jennifer Grubb, a twenty-year veteran of the printing industry.
Tienken made her selection and placed her order.
“Once the order was confirmed, I packaged my design files for review by the production team. Proofs were sent via PDF on the same day and that was it!” said Tienken.
Three days after the first quote, her custom 2-pocket folders went into production. It should have been smooth sailing from there, but recent events threw the team a curveball.
“Once the order was placed, we found out that, because of all these supply chain issues, the stock Holly selected was on backorder,” said Grubb. “I knew she needed the folders quickly, so I called right away with a few alternatives. She switched to a 100lb. uncoated stock, which we both felt worked really well for the feel she wanted – the way it absorbed the ink gave it a kind of matte, vintage look.”
Tienken was thrilled with the experience and, especially, with the final result.
“It is exactly how I envisioned it! The color is perfect. The artwork is crisp and clear. The paper stock compliments the design well—we used an uncoated 100lb cover. And the construction is great—folding, scoring, glue,” said Tienken. “The design field has shifted so much since I began my career over 20 years ago and getting actual physical, printed work is such a rarity. It was incredibly satisfying to hold these in my hands!”
Product:: 9″ x 12″ Original 2 Pocket Presentation Folder, in 100lb. white smooth stock, imprinted on both sides with four color process, and an H4 business card slit in the right pocket.
