'Don't judge a book by its cover'
A common statement. By this is meant that the content of the book is at least as important as the cover. We obviously agree, but a good cover can certainly make all the difference when it comes to the success of a book. At NPN Printing, we like to make beautiful things, which is why we pay a lot of attention to the cover.
We don't do this alone, by the way, but in collaboration with Winter & Company. They are our right hand when it comes to unique and special cover materials, setting standards in creativity, appearance and quality.
About Winter & Company
Winter & Company has been around for a while. And that's actually a huge understatement. In fact, the company was founded back in 1892 and has since grown into a global enterprise. Their spirit for innovation has always been a guiding principle in their work. You can still see this today in their consultative and investigative attitude and in the huge variety of unique, creative and high-quality cover materials.
This allows designers to maximize their creativity to create beautiful, unique products.
At NPN Printng, we think with our customers. Simply put, we work according to the motto "Can't exists." The cooperation with Winter & Company is an essential part of this. Together with the customer, we look for the perfect material to ultimately realize the best-fit cover. Winter & Company has an advisory role in this and continues to surprise us and our customers with the latest possibilities when it comes to covers.
Beyond appearance
When you want to develop a good cover for your book, its appearance may be the first thing you think about. Of course, it is important that this appearance matches the content and the idea the designer has in his or her head.
Still, it is good to look beyond just the look. After all, the feel also does an awful lot. Is the material hard or soft, flexible or rigid, heavy or light? That all affects the complete picture. In the design process it is therefore important to actually hold the materials, to experience them.
Saskia de Roos of Winter & Company is happy to support us in this. She has enjoyed working for the company for 27 years now: "No day is the same and that diversity is what drives me. I'm on the road a lot and our client portfolio ranges from a relatively small manual bookbinder to very large, modern design agencies. I really enjoy that variety and, of course, I also love all the beautiful materials we sell. I am a particular fan of our coated materials. They really stand out from the standard picture. They are very beautiful, strong and their possibilities are almost endless."
Interfaces with NPN Printing
Saskia believes it is important to involve both the designer and the final producer (the printers and binders) in the process. However, she tries to start with the designer. After all, a designer often has the biggest voice when it comes to decisions.
"I really enjoy expanding my network with designers, sitting down with them and inspiring them. In this I find clear common ground with NPN Printing. They also think in terms of possibilities and are open to trying out different materials. Not every printer wants to do that. They are often reluctant to try new things.
In addition, I find NPN Printing very knowledgeable and it's really just a very nice club of people. We have been working together for almost 20 years and know each other through and through. The contact is personal and the lines are short. That makes the cooperation very pleasant for us!"
Sustainable future plans
Like many companies these days, Winter & Company focuses on sustainability. It is important - even in printing - to consider the world around us. Here, too, Saskia finds common ground with NPN Printing when it comes to future plans.
"I would really like to do more with NPN Printing in the area of sustainability. For example, working with a kind of linen that is completely developed with plastic from the ocean. You can turn beautiful books with that. It would be great to start working on this together."
