I was asked recently to be a guest lecturer for a new class of undergraduate graphic design majors. The professor wanted me to give the students an overview of the printing industry, with some ideas about how they would one day fit into the printing landscape.

Before I started, I asked if anyone had any previous experience with printers. Two students had minimal contact. Other than that, zilch.

So I followed up with the one question I'd been dying to ask: "What do you think about printers, then?"

Most of the students didn't voice any thoughts or opinions, which makes sense, since they've never dealt with printers. One woman had heard that "printers are either really good or really bad."

Now, I can't say whether this class of designers-in-training typifies what most undergraduates think and know about printers, but it led me to wonder the following:

- Does the printing industry promote itself to graphic design students in ways that would be mutually beneficial?

- Do commercial printing firms make themselves known to design students in local colleges, seeing as how they are future customers?

- Wouldn't educating graphic design students about printing be a win/win proposition for both the industry and the students?

- How many art schools across the country offer print production courses to budding designers, the way that Massachusetts College of Art does? Why don't they all?

Most graphic designers buy printing. Printers have a vested interest in teaching them "how printing works." There are dozens of ways to accomplish this, and some are very easy and inexpensive.

If you are a printer who has built a business relationship with design students or new designers, please let me know.

P.S. One of those students asked me this: "How do people become printers, anyway?" So I'm developing a Print Tip about what it takes to become a printer. I'll be interviewing a U.S. printer (any volunteers?), as well as an expert from the U.K., to make the column that much more relevant to my international readers. Stay tuned.