Top Design Contest--Cut Sheets
Platinum Award: Cut Sheets.
Interstellar Overdrive.
When Le Moyne College, Syracuse, N.Y., wanted to blast its outdated student schedule and statement into the 21st century, it could have called on Buzz Aldrin, or even Buzz Lightyear, for a little interstellar inspiration. Instead, the small Catholic college called on Buzz Underwood, CDC and chairman of the Cooley Group East Syracuse, N.Y.
Though an internationally acclaimed astronaut (or an animated movie character) may have been a flashier choice, Cheryl Davies, bursar for the college, said settling on Underwood wasn't a difficult decision at all.
"The college has had a long-standing relationship with Cooley—they designed our statement forms 20 years ago," ex-plained Davies. "We just wanted a new look, something others didn't have.
"Everything I looked at was canned," she continued, "so I contacted Buzz and explained what I wanted."
Davies added that an aesthetic change of pace wasn't the only reason the college was looking to change the old statement. Despite 20 years of service, it was decided that the old statement lacked sufficient detail and was a bit cumbersome.
"It had previously been a two-part continuous form plus another blank 9.5x11-inch continuous form plus a tri-fold brochure," explained Underwood. "If you add all that up it's expensive and heavy to mail."
Not only was Underwood able to come up with a more compact design, he was also able to include more information in a lighter-weight package. Though Davies says she doesn't have an exact figure yet, she is anticipating an overall reduction in the cost of delivery for the monthly statement.
Underwood explained that he simply condensed the information in the original two-part continuous form into an 8.5x14-inch cut-sheet design that is laser printed on both sides.
Then, to enhance the statement's visual aesthetics, Underwood scanned in a photo of the college and printed it in the background to make it look like a four-color statement.
Finally, he color coordinated the entire statement with the colors on the college's catalog.
"The statement itself looks like quite a nice piece of paper," concluded Underwood. "It's not just a dull statement—and it's more cost-effective as well."
• Manufacturer: Ennis Business Forms, Denver, Colo.
• Press: Heidelberg DI/GTO.
• Paper: Unisource.