Settle back and relax because it’s time for something truly special. This picture book will make you fall in love with print all over again.
My good friends at Printsmith Productions [projects / website] produced “Cannonball,” designed and written by Taxi Studio to celebrate the design agency’s 21st anniversary and rebranding.
A Story Brought to Life with Art and Engineering
Inside, Taxi Studio’s thoughts on the power of teamwork take the form of a parable about an elephant, a pelican, and a mouse. Rebecca Sutherland’s [projects / website] endearing illustrations, along with her clever Pop-Ups, Fold- and Pull-Outs, and Die Cuts, make this story come alive.
The magic begins with a spellbinding cover depicting the book’s star, Elephant, scattering dozens of fish in every direction. These are rendered in Holographic Foil against a Black Colorplan Slate paper background.
The cover’s leather-textured emboss adds an extra tactile “oomph.” Meanwhile, the book’s title shines in Foil on the spine. This is accompanied by the subtitle: “Creativity, Courage, Collaboration & Shameless Self-Promotion.” A combination that perfectly blends inspiration and humor.
Intricate Details That Delight
Inside, Arctic Paper’s Munken Lynx Rough accommodates the various surprises on every page.
The opening spread sets the stage, raising our expectations high. The finishing and paper-engineering effects grow ever more elaborate.
We are presented with an arc of Holographic Clear Foil suns and moons, depicting the passage of time.
This is only one example of how Rebecca’s creative visual storytelling works so well with Printsmith’s printing and finishing expertise.
As the story progresses, the finishing and paper–engineering effects grow ever more elaborate.
By tugging a tab, you reveal a mouse running past Elephant. And his eye follows the rodent’s progress. Turning the page presents a Pop-Up of the pachyderm leaping toward us.
Meanwhile, An enormous Pop-Up pelican opens and closes its mouth as the pages are turned.
A Collaboration of Creativity and Precision
Turning a page presents a Pop Up of the pachyderm leaping toward us. Meanwhile, an enormous Pop-Up pelican is opening and closing its mouth as you open and close the pages.
The most impressive engineering feat features a Pop-Up Elephant rotating in mid-air as it executes a “cannonball” dive into a creek, scattering a school of Pearlescent-Foil fish.
Meanwhile, the simplest yet cleverest effect occurs when you free the creature from a trap by “snapping” the rope in two by tearing apart the Velcro dots holding it together across the printed spread. The satisfying “ripping” sound enhances the interactive experience of this already engaging book.
The relatively bland color palette further highlights the book’s sparing use of color, such as the Red of the pelican’s mouth and the Yellow glow of a firefly, making these moments all the more impactful.
The close creative collaboration behind this amazing book shows that teamwork isn’t only for storybook characters—when done right, the results can be pure magic.
