The Content, The Designer and The Print Shop

Here’s a little story that’s hardly a fairytale. Deadlines are blown, clock is ticking, the print shop is doing what they can to print, assemble and box your order at the 11th hour and there are 3 orders due to be delivered in the next day by that same team. They’re doing their best but risk missing the delivery time requested due to not getting the file until a day or two ago.

Rewind to a day or two ago:
Panic induces increased heart rate, heightened jumpiness, ease in forgetting to eat lunch and a mental meltdown on the brink! Persperation and an involuntary tear or two weep out of the corner of the eye as a mouse is clicked frantically, returned proofs are scanned for new corrections, phone calls and messages are taken from late contributors and a mere mention of tomorrow’s deadlines could lead to sudden death. The files get uploaded to the print shop’s ftp site before said panicked designer leaves for the day to catch a carpool. Gives you the feel of an Indiana Jones worthy hand off. But coming back tomorrow, it’s hard not to be counscious of the fact that there are 11 more programs to creat and a large finale of a book before the “busy season” ends.

A designer can lose oneself in the panic and agony of late contributors, hair splitters, and indecision. It is a personal challenge to stay level headed, breathe, smile, continue with a teamwork attitude, and not drive the print shop to spontaneous self destruction as their presses fly at Ludicrous Speed.

Flash back to real time:
The programs arrive boxed and happy to go on their way to their far away destination just in time to not be shipped- a savings of over $600. The next day’s programs arrive in time as well. A pause occurs as the designers brain mushes and relaxes at the wonderful news. But the overused muscle has the long haul to battle ahead and there’s no time for respite.

A cancelled weekend of traveling to work events leads to a committed 8 hour Saturday at the office to battle the deadlines once again. This designer will have the best nights’ sleep she’s had since August 15th on the nght of October 30th if everything goes as planned.

CM