Domtar began 2023 with a desire to create a series that explains the basics of paper using simple terms and engaging visuals. With the vision, however, came the need for a partner capable of bringing the idea to life. Enter: Design Ranch. Based in Kansas City, MO, you may recognize their name from previous posts in our blog and gallery. Their pieces have impressed before, but their work on the Cougar Paper Trails series is nothing short of masterful. Taking full advantage of the capabilities of the Cougar paper product line, Design Ranch paired various print techniques with striking imagery and the industry took notice. As a result. we’re proud to announce that both Volumes 1 & 2 of Cougar Paper Trails are winners of the Communication Arts Design Award of Excellence.
What is Communication Arts?
Communication Arts (CA) is a professional journal for creatives involved in visual communications, including designers, art directors, agencies, photographers and more. For 66 years, the publication has highlighted the best in design, advertising, photography, illustration, interactive and typography, shared new ideas and information, and advocated for the highest professional standards in the field. The journal’s rich tradition of representing the aspirations of a continually growing and quality-conscious field of visual communications is only furthered through their annual awards where winning entrants are not only published in print and online, but also given a personalized Award of Excellence.
Selected by a jury of leading design professionals, CA’s Award of Excellence is one of the most-coveted awards in the industry. Any design project printed, published or aired for the first time from May 2023 through May 2024 was eligible, but only 143 of the 2,960 entries to the 65th Design Annual were accepted, making the Design Annual one of the most exclusive major design competitions in the world.
The Nominees
30 pages, 6 ½” x 8 ¾”, 4-color + 3 neon PMS, offset printing, perfect bound, embossed short sheet, French folds, spot register UV, short sheet waterfall, black foil stamp, blind emboss.
Earlier this year, Design Ranch entered both Paper Trails volumes into the Design category for the 2024 Communication Arts Awards. The result? The series brought home two CA Awards of Excellence.
Printed by J&J Printing, the initial volume of the Paper Trails series, Finding the Perfect Line, uses mountain biking themes and vivid imagery to engage and educate its readers. The book guides you to a deeper understanding of the Cougar® brand’s basis weight offerings by focusing on their uses and the various effects they can help you achieve.
32 pages, 6 1/2 × 8 3/4, 4-color plus 3 neon PMS, offset printing, perfect bound, embossed short sheet, French folds, spot textured register UV, spot gloss UV, accordion fold-out tip in.
Volume 2, Get the Feeling Right, showcases the different finishes of their Cougar paper line—smooth, super smooth, and vellum. While it trades the forest for the beach, this book maintains the standard set in the first installment. Page after page is filled with vibrant photography and innovative effects, putting Cougar’s capabilities on full display.
We couldn’t be prouder of the Paper Trails series and would like to use this opportunity to thank and highlight Design Ranch for their efforts in designing and elevating the series. To request Cougar Paper Trails and other incredible resources, visit Domtar.com/Inspiration.
