OUGD502 - A Design Strategy: Cast Iron Design

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The Cast Iron Design Company is co-owned by founders Richard Roche and Jonathan Black. They met in design school and soon realized they had a natural chemistry along with complementary skillsets. Not long after graduating they put their heads together and started a design company.

"We're committed to Environmental Responsibility" 

"We Believe Green Design" 

"Doesn't need to be stuffy & serious or equate to inflated production costs"

Cast Iron Design is a company that I came across quite randomly. While their work isn't the kind that I create or usually would use as influence, I do think that there are a few pieces of work which really are interesting to me.

Something that I hadn't come across up to this point was a design company that was really interesting in Green Design and having an environmental responsibility, and clearly showing it in their work. A lot of their work is also produced by hand, and done to a very high quality and standard.

Below is some of their work which I particularly like, and show the design skills of the company.

Bookmarks - self initiated
We letterpressed these bookmarks using paper scraps from poster trimmings and makeready. They're printed using leftover ink and are included in orders from our general store.

Letterpress Print
An art print celebrating all things letterpress, from composing sticks to ink cans.
A limited edition, two-color (light blue, gray), 12″×16″ letterpress print on 160lb, 100% PCW recycled double-thick cover stock.

Jack Sinclair Letterpress Studio

To celebrate the opening of the lab, the University held a grand opening celebration. We designed an invitation in addition to various print materials for the event. Needless to say, everything was letterpressed.
We designed a unique format for the invitation to minimize paper use and designed bookmarks that made use of paper waste. We also spec'd responsibly made paper whenever possible.

Seniortech

This project included developing a identity and a website with job board functionality. The client wanted to keep it clean and simple in order to be accessible for the target audience, senior citizens.