From the initial contact to project completion, find out how we create a print piece and how you’re involved each step of the way.
- Project initiated.
Once you contact Creative Services about a project, we assign it a job number and title. This number allows us to efficiently track your job from start to finish, and you’ll often see it referenced in correspondence such as emails. We’ll also send you a questionnaire to help us determine your audience, objectives and the scope of your project. - Client meeting scheduled.
Based on your questionnaire responses, a dedicated team is assigned to your project. The editor working on your project will contact you to schedule an initial meeting where you’ll meet the team and discuss the project in depth. - Production schedule set.
Based on your delivery date and the time needed to complete the project, a production schedule will be set to ensure your publication stays on target. - Concept presented and approved.
The creative team will develop a concept for your review. This allows you an opportunity to provide direction early on in the design stage and continue any discussions about colors, images or text. You’ll receive a concept approval form where you can sign off on the initial design or note any changes needed. - Copy edited.
The editor begins work on copy during the concept phase. You can provide the copy, we can write the text or we can work with you to craft the perfect message. No matter the source, the editor reviews all copy using AP style to ensure consistent, error-free text that supports your goal and the university’s mission. - Images selected.
Creative Services maintains a vast inventory of high-quality photos that fit a variety of contexts. If we don’t have the perfect image on file, we can schedule a custom photo shoot to get just the right shot. - Design completed.
With the text and photos in hand, the designer will build on the initial concept, incorporating your feedback. - Prices provided.
Our production manager will bid the project to several vendors to ensure your publication is printed at the highest quality, for the most competitive price. - Internal proof routed.
Once the design is completed, the piece routes through a thorough and careful internal review that starts with an initial copyedit. Our copyeditor reads the entire publication and works with the designer on any changes. A second copyeditor then conducts another review before the publication gets the seal of approval from our editorial director, photography services director, art director and print design manager. - First external proof delivered.
You’ll receive a color proof mocked up to show you what the piece will look like when printed. We prefer to provide you with a hard-copy proof, as the colors on a PDF aren’t uniform from monitor to monitor and sometimes don’t reveal the fine details that make your publication unique. Also, please note that the color on the mock-up will not be an exact match of the final print piece. A more accurate representation of color will be shown from our Pantone Matching System color swatch books when we present the design. You’ll also receive a proof approval form that provides the option to approve the piece or note changes needed, as well as areas to indicate quantity and delivery destination. - Client changes received and made.
The team will work with you to make any changes you requested to the piece. - Second external proof delivered.
You’ll receive a second proof reflecting the requested changes. - Final changes and approval received.
At this stage you can submit any final changes and then approve the project, including pricing. - Files prepared and sent to the printer.
Once the final signoff is received, the designer will prepare the files and the project will be sent to the vendor. - Quality control assured.
We work closely with the vendor throughout the printing process to ensure production quality. This includes reviewing color composite proofs on all jobs and, when necessary, conducting press and bindery checks. - Publication delivered.
The final printed piece delivers to your specified drop-off location.