Screen Printing Establishments—2010–2022
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 5,800 establishments in NAICS 323113 (Commercial Screen Printing). This represents an increase of 30% since 2010. In macro news, inflation was up slightly in December.
Frank's Presidential Font
Frank tells of his consulting project in 1977 that involved President Jimmy Carter and a type font. He explains the unit system for type design.
Around the Web: Of Foods and Freebies
Another year, another set of classic works now in the public domain. Graphene-enhanced earbuds. Rao’s Homemade collaborated with a local artist for limited-edition pasta sauce labels. Play Tetris inside a PDF. Let the Morse Code Clock drive you into insanity. Two art prints depict the “weirdest and most wonderful things” NYC has seen throughout 2024. The “Adaptchula” is an adjustable spatula and not a versatile vampire. Self-driving cars can’t figure out construction worker hand signals. The romantic origin of the Goldfish cracker. A career change awaits you driving the Planters Nutmobile. Enjoy Cup Noodles ramen with a realistic squid fork. The erroneously named “pickle sandwich.” Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.
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Industry News
- We Need Your Help! Take the Taktiful and WhatTheyThink 2025 Digital Embellishment Survey
- PaperSpecs to Offer a Sneak Peek at the Hottest Print Design Trends of 2025 in Free Webinar
- Signarama Ranked #174 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500® List
- OCP Custom Graphics Continues Legacy of High Quality with New Suprasetter from HEIDELBERG
- DuPont™ Artistri® Joins ISS Long Beach Announcing an Expanded Direct-to-Film Offering
- PostNet Earns a Top Franchise Ranking on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 List
- Warren Werbitt Launches "Printing’s Alive: The Podcast" in Collaboration with PRINTING United Alliance
- Art or Science? Drytac Explains How to Avoid the Most Common Mistakes in Lamination
- PrintXpand Delighted to Attend FESPA Middle East 2025 in Dubai
- TOPPAN Joins AUTOMOTIVE WORLD 2025
- CERM and Athena Graphics Partner to Revolutionize Flexo Plate Ordering with Seamless Automation
- Flex Technology Group Amplifies Holiday Giving Through Partnership with Feeding America
- Canon Places in Top 10 for 41 Years Running in U.S. Patent Ranking and Ranks First for the 20th Consecutive Year Among Japanese Companies
- Implementing AI in Web to Print: How Does it Value at Every Stage of Print Workflow?
- Leading Human Resources Technology Company Selects Quadient for Accessibility Compliance in Customer Communications
- TOPPAN Holdings at RoboDEX
Pantone’s Color of the Year: What’s in a Name?
Pantone releases its Color of the Year on an annual basis, and 2025 is the year of Mocha Mousse. This article explores the matter of color psychology and discusses what this year’s hue might be able to tell us about ourselves and our current mentality as we navigate through another year.
Harnessing Innovation, Software, and Technology for Textile Design and Production: Insight with Frank Maeder of NedGraphics and Optitex
Textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan recently interviewed Frank Maeder, President of NedGraphics and Optitex, who shared insights that underscore the power of technology, partnerships, and innovation in the textile industry.
Is AI Destroying the Planet?
When we talk about AI, we tend to talk about the impact on human tasks. But all of AI’s benefits come at an environmental cost, and that’s not something we generally think about.
Embracing the Future of Digital Print Embellishments—Without Sacrificing Value
In this “open letter” to the industry, Taktiful President and Embellishment Evangelist Kevin Abergel points out that, even as the rise of digital embellishments represents one of the most significant shifts in print technology in decades, bad practices can undermine growth in embellishments. He identifies a path that prioritizes sustainable growth, mutual success, and the enduring value of digital embellishments.
Hunkeler Innovationdays: Fifth Time Is the Charm for Polaris Direct
In this video sponsored by Hunkeler, David Zwang talks with Joe Maloy, President and COO of Polaris Direct. This will be Polaris Direct's fifth Hunkeler Innovationdays, and they talk about what makes the event so special.
Industry Data
Screen Printing Establishments—2010–2022
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 5,800 establishments in NAICS 323113 (Commercial Screen Printing). This represents an increase of 30% since 2010. In macro news, inflation was up slightly in December. Full Analysis
Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Poland
This regular series of short articles provides some details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Poland. Full Analysis
November Graphic Arts Employment Again Remains Generally Flat
Net printing employment in November 2024 was not much changed from October—overall employment was down slightly by 0.1%, with production employment down 0.3% and non-production employment up 0.4%, one nearly offsetting the other. Full Analysis
Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Norway
This regular series of short articles provides some details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Norway. Full Analysis
Commercial Printing Establishments—2010–2022
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 15,430 establishments in NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing except Screen and Books). This represents a decline of 30% since 2010. In macro news, Q3 GDP growth revised up to 3.1%. Full Analysis
Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—The Netherlands
This ongoing series of short articles provides some country details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at the Netherlands. Full Analysis
October Shipments: Pinch Us, We’re Dreaming
October 2024 shipments came in at $8.19 billion, up quite substantially from September’s $7.69 billion—the fourth straight monthly increase, and the third best October in the past five years. Full Analysis
Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Italy
This ongoing series of short articles provides some country details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, in particular, tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Italy. Full Analysis
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Around the Web
WhatTheyThink's web roundup miscellany
Around the Web: Of Foods and Freebies
Another year, another set of classic works now in the public domain. Graphene-enhanced earbuds. Rao’s Homemade collaborated with a local artist for limited-edition pasta sauce labels. Play Tetris inside a PDF. Let the Morse Code Clock drive you into insanity. Two art prints depict the “weirdest and most wonderful things” NYC has seen throughout 2024. The “Adaptchula” is an adjustable spatula and not a versatile vampire. Self-driving cars can’t figure out construction worker hand signals. The romantic origin of the Goldfish cracker. A career change awaits you driving the Planters Nutmobile. Enjoy Cup Noodles ramen with a realistic squid fork. The erroneously named “pickle sandwich.” Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Of Resolutions and Robots
For 2025, skip resolutions; try a “theme.” Encyclopedia Britannica is going to become an AI company, sadly. Some, uh, highlights from this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Visit Tokyo’s Museum of Packaging Culture. Print magazine’s 2024 in typography. “Snackfishing” is now apparently a thing. Graphene-based e-textiles for early disease detection. A “modern” redesign of the cuckoo clock. A robot vacuum with a death claw! A penny-farthing motorbike. An LA man trapped in a Waymo. Win Lifestyle Bowls in a Chipotle-Strava challenge. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Relaxing Rocket. Seeing Signage. Design Destination. Famous Fyodor. Forgone Fine. Software Snacks. Farming Fiasco. Squirrel Shocker. Goldfish Galore.
Instead of a Yule log this Christmas, bask in the glow of NASA’s Rocket Engine Fireplace. Brown sugar is apparently going to be 2025’s Flavor of the Year. A recyclable paper wine bottle shaped like a bottle. The First Toronto Post Office is also museum, featuring a reading and writing room complete with quill pens. The New York City Sign Museum is now offering tours. Münich’s Design Museum features a new exhibition of classic children’s picture books. Fyodor Dostoyevsky has gone viral, oddly. AI is used to come up with new snack flavors. Heightened solar activity is playing havoc with agricultural equipment. Carnivorous squirrels! A panoply of new Goldfish favors. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly drone-free miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Lessons Learned. Packaging Profitability. Bottle Blue. Sign Sum. Relic Writing. Popemobile Power. Trekkie Torture. Hubble Hooha. Dish Destruction. Festive Fromage.
52 things we learned in 2024. An eye-catching bottle design boosted sales. Saratoga Water’s iconic blue bottles now have an official Pantone name. An unusual, mathematically challenged “welcome to…” sign. Rescuing relics from the now-defunct Type Archive in the U.K. Another week, another unearthed relic that challenges our assumptions about the history of language and writing. Mercedes-Benz’s new electric Popemobile. A one-time owner of “Star Trek” novelty license plates is swamped with speeding and parking tickets—and she doesn’t even own a car. What would happen if you actually did put a bull in a china shop? Whole Foods’ “12 Days of Cheese.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Hot Hue. Widespread Word. Cool Covers. Catalog Contraction. Ancient Alphabet. Imaging ink. Tiny Timepiece. Freaky Franks.
Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2025. The OED’s Word of the Year for 2024. Print magazine’s Best Book Covers of 2024. Print catalogs are getting smaller. A recent find uncovered the world’s oldest alphabet. Ancient Babylonian student’s math error preserved in stone for 4,000 years. A new technology can measure brain waves using electronic, temporary scalp tattoos. Graphene sheets used in a new technique for self-assembling electronics. Casio’s functional ring watch. A new Roger Dean exhibition. Sam’s Club’s “Holidogs” are not for the faint of stomach. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
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