Cleveland, Ohio — The second year of MAN Roland’s popular “Printing for Creatives” seminar series got underway at the St. Ives facility here this month, with an audience of 60 area graphic designers, art directors and ad agency executives attending a half-day intensive workshop. The series, which consists of events hosted by MAN Roland press users throughout North America, features presentations by creative production experts that instruct the print buyers how to maximize the benefits of the medium. The events conclude with a working tour of the host printer’s facility. The format of the seminar dovetails with St. Ives’ ongoing efforts to keep its clients in touch with developments in the graphic arts. "St. Ives works closely with its customers to ensure they're aware of the latest printing technologies,” says Rhonda Perry, Senior Vice President and Sales Manager at St. Ives. “Each quarter we present a ‘Technology Seminar’ to educate our customers about our industry.” By learning to use print more effectively, creatives will use it more often. “MAN Roland's 'Printing for Creatives' seminar helped us reinforce that message in a highly interactive way,” Perry adds. “The 60 or so customers who attended the event now have a first-hand perspective how to benefit from the advancements in printing that we can provide, and that strengthens our relationships with them.” Perry notes that the seminar’s ability to draw creatives to the printer’s facility and its hands-on focus help drive the series’ intensity: “It was presented on-site with an emphasis on the aspect of our business that is most applicable to the artists and designers who create the work that we print. Customers were able to tour our facility at the end of the day and see the technology at work on actual projects." Yves Rogivue, CEO of MAN Roland Inc., says that the strategic objective of “Printing for Creatives” is to increase the demand for print: “Designers, account executives and creative directors have a major influence over media selection. The more they know about print and the technology behind it, the more they will use our medium.” Measuring the reaction to the even at St. Ives, Perry says both the company and its customers gave it high marks: “We were very pleased with the seminar and have had nothing but rave reviews from our customers.”