Studio Brief 2 - Visit from Footprint Workers Co-operative

Footprint is a co-operative of 5 people who specialise in printing ethically and using environmentally friendly methods. They do work for bands, personal comic series and have a specialism in zines. Because they're in a co-operative it means it means all the members co-own the company, receiving equal pay and shares. Any extra profit goes back into the company as an investment, returned to the workers or donated to the community/good causes.

The company began in 2000 when environmental activists inherited an Offset Litho Press and exposing plates, which they decided to use in order to spread their message of activism. The company was set up in the basement of a housing co-op and it is still based there. Eventually the company grew and they decided to no longer use a printing process that involved solvents and switched to risograph printing.

Risographs have quite a soft lo-fi effect that involves lots of experimentation. Currently they use a machine that involves 2 coloured drums which can be mixed to create a variety of colours, giving an almost transparent effect. Because of this unique process it means that the co-op receives regular customers from people around the UK. This form of problem solving day-to-day is a constant sources of inspiration for the workers, especially as they all have their own projects to focus on. Sometimes Footprint goes to zine fairs as well and runs a 'zine in a day' workshop which is a good way of creating interest in the co-op's work.

The company does quite a bit for the environment, participating in anti-fracking campaigns and working with many other co-ops. They also use soil based ink, all recycled paper and use barely any energy.They won't ship oversees either, which drastically cuts down on air miles and also allows them to promote other print companies around the world.

Overall this was an incredibly interesting talk, especially as I have followed Footprint's work for a while. It has inspired me to spend more time working on zines and researching printing techniques. It also has shown how your ethics can completely influence your design work, and every aspect of it. I hope to pick a topic for Studio Brief 2 that can be approached from an entirely ethics based approach, making the design outcome entirely authentic.

http://www.footprinters.co.uk/