The Challenge
Stonegate Fellowship came to their rep with a workbook concept that was more ambitious than a standard print run could handle. The idea called for several specialty elements working together in one piece, each doing a specific job, rather than a single format stretched to cover everything. The challenge was translating that vision into physical object that could actually be manufactured, without losing what made the concept distinct.
The Impact
A workbook like this isn’t something a reader flips through once. It gets handled repeatedly, referenced, and carried around. Every material had to hold up to that use while still delivering the tactile, considered feel Stonegate wanted from the first page to the last. Getting the specialty elements right wasn’t a design flourish; it was what made the concept work as needed.
Our Approach
Working closely with Stonegate’s rep, we broke the concept down into its specialty pieces and found a way to execute each one rather than substituting something easier to produce.
The front cover is router-cut chipboard, giving the workbook a sturdy, dimensional opening that signals it’s not a disposable piece. Inside, 70# Cougar Natural Text carries the core content with warm, uncoated feel, while clear gloss cover inserts add contrast and protect key pages. Stair-stepped pages let readers navigate sections by sight and touch, without needing tabs or dividers. The back cover, a heavier 130# Cougar Natural Cover, includes a built-in pocket for loose materials, and the whole workbook is Wire-O bound so it lies flat and holds up to repeated use.
The Outcome
The finished workbook matched Stonegate’s original vision, piece by piece. Every specialty element they asked for made it into the final product, working together rather than competing for attention. It’s a piece Stonegate can put in front of their audience and know it reflects the same ambition they brought to the concept.
What’s Next
When a concept calls for something outside a standard print run, the right combination of materials and processes can still bring it to life. This project shows what’s possible when a print partner treats an ambitious idea as something to solve for, not scale back.
Have a concept that doesn’t fit a standard format? Speak with a print specialist to talk through how to build it.
