London – Fedrigoni Group, the leading global producer of specialty papers for premium publishing, packaging and graphics, has partnered with design studio The Cafeteria and renowned photographer Brian Griffin to produce MODE, a photography book printed by Pressision showcasing unseen images of the iconic band Depeche Mode shot by Griffin in the 1980s. Printed on Fedrigoni's Arena Ivory Bulk and Symbol Tatami White, MODE provides an intimate, unseen glimpse into the early years of the iconic British band.

The idea of publishing unseen pictures of Depeche Mode came from a conversation Griffin had with friend and music producer Vaughn George who helped launch the highly successful kickstarter campaign to raise funds to publish the book. The conversation sparked Griffin to reflect on his works, which can be found in the interview with music journalist Simon Helm introducing the book. 

With the recommendation of the Fedrigoni team, design studio The Cafeteria and Griffin landed on Fedrigoni's Arena Ivory Bulk (120 gsm) for pages containing text and Symbol Tatami White (150 gsm) for the images. 

The uncoated Arena Bulk lends a warm, tactile quality to the text, providing the canvas for Griffin’s words, while a journal by Production Designer and Stylist Roger Burton - who worked as costume designer for Depeche’s video of “Only When Lose Myself” in 1998 - appear on Fedrigoni’s Symbol Tatami. With a high bulk and matte finish, Symbol Tatami is also used for all images, ensuring Griffin's art is displayed with exceptional clarity and definition, helping create a synergy between touch and sight.

“This is a complete collection of Brian’s Depeche Mode photography so it has the potential to be a collectors’ piece”, comments Designer Julia Whalley from The Cafeteria. “The material choices reflect that sense of wanting to make it special, almost archival in feel.”

The slightly creamy papers lend the images the depth and seriousness of a classic art publication. And although these photographs were taken for a ‘pop’ band, a glossy paper might have lent too far into a disposable magazine aesthetic, said Whalley.

Brian Griffin stated: “Having worked with bulky papers before, I knew I wanted the same feeling for MODE. The book is designed to be a historical document from the ‘80s, so my vision was for it to embody the era through the design. I’ve worked with Catherine Carley and The Cafeteria team before, and so I knew they could provide the same level of attention to detail when it came to creating MODE.”

Catherine Carley, Managing Director at The Cafeteria summarises: “Cafeteria has long been aware of the Fedrigoni range and Symbol Tatami, in particular it always felt like a classic Fedrigoni product. We had shown Brian Symbol Tatami samples previously and it made an impact on him so it was always in the mix when finalising papers for MODE. Texture and contrast were very important in our decision making. The overall book needed to feel inviting and special, from solid black cloth-bound cover turning into metallic end-pages leading into the softer inners full of rich content. The contrast in colour and texture as you switch from Arena Bulk to Symbol Tatami helps define the content and adds another layer for the senses to enjoy. Getting the right combination and balance between the text pages on Arena Bulk and the image pages on Symbol Tatami was essential to creating the right aesthetic for the book.

The Kickstarter campaign, launched earlier this year, quickly gained traction among fans of Depeche Mode and photography enthusiasts alike. Supporters eagerly backed the project, raising £49k to help the production of 1250 copies, surpassing the initial goal of £30k.

Ambra Fridegotto, Marketing Manager at Fedrigoni commented: “Fedrigoni is proud to have been the paper of choice for MODE. We have a long-standing commitment to supporting the arts; we’re delighted with the results of this collaboration with Brian Griffin and The Cafeteria.”

To secure one of the limited copies of MODE, you can visit: https://www.vaughngeorge.com/product-page/mode-photography-book-by-brian-griffin