Brand and Creative

An average publication or project takes three to six weeks to produce. Small jobs or revisions to existing publications often take less time, but new or large projects can take eight to 12 weeks. As you plan, remember also to consider the amount of time needed to print, mail or otherwise distribute your publication. As we develop your production schedule, we will also build in time for any web or digital initiatives that are part of it, to ensure that web content promoted via to print mailing or digital distribution is approved and live prior to distribution, as well as to insure timely outreach via social media around launch events or campaign kickoffs.

We will make every effort to meet deadlines and assist in emergency situations, but our commitment to quality control and brand consistency requires that immediate turnarounds be exceptions to normal workflow.

Sample Print Production Schedules

After you submit a project request, your project will be placed in the queue. Typical turnaround times are:

• 1 week: Copy provided; simple reprints, postcards, etc.
• 3 weeks: Copy provided; flyers, brochures, posters, invitations, etc.
• 6–8 weeks: New or large projects, sets, or complex work.

If your project includes a digital component, web content and review timelines will be built into the schedule.

These timelines do not include printing and mailing. Please add 7 days for small projects and 14 days for large projects.

For most projects, our office will provide PDF proofs for edits and approval via either email or our web-based project management system, Basecamp. Campus partners are responsible for proofreading and approving final proofs. Extensive changes made at this point in the process can delay the project. In most cases, we request that proofs are returned within 48 hours. Four rounds of proofs are the maximum number allowed on major print projects, so please be sure to proofread carefully! Please submit your edits directly on the PDF proof using Adobe Acrobat.

You are responsible for submitting final copy.

View our Editorial Style Guide for more information on creating copy for publications

Small mailings can often be handled by campus partners directly by addressing and then sending through our mail room so First Class postage can be applied, then mailed.

For larger mailings that are printed and mailed from outside vendors the mail list determines the exact quantity to be printed and is due to MarComm one week prior to the release of the printer files. A postage check must be cut and deposited into Curry’s Nonprofit account prior to the mailing going out. Postage is the responsibility of the department paying for the publication.

Publications that are printed by an outside vendor that will be mailed will require a partner supplied mail list. The mail list should include ONLY the data associated with the mailing. Please do not include columns of information that will not appear on the mailing.

Column titles should include the appropriate address field, for example:

Prefix - FirstName - LastName - Address1 - Address2 - Address3 - City - State - Zip - Country

If the publication has additional variable data on a letter, for example, we need to know exactly what info should appear: name (Dear John or Dear Mr. Doe) or name and address. More complicated variable data publications should be discussed with Marketing and Communications.

Office of Marketing and Communications services – consultation, copy-editing, design, production, and arranging for printing and mailing -- are free in most cases. Campus partners pay for printing and in some cases, for custom photography or illustration, and incidental services.

In special cases, campus partners may be billed for freelance design services on projects we cannot design in-house, but we will consult with you ahead of time in such cases and provide an estimate for approval prior to project start.