By Olivia Cahoon
Part 2 of 2
Established in 1962, Ravensbourne College is an industry-focused design and digital media higher education institution in London, England. It offers a variety of courses from graphic design and fashion to visual effects and moving image.
The college has 2,400 students and is focused on producing highly employable and enterprising graduates. As an institute of creativity and collaboration, Ravensbourne College offers digital media and design courses from pre-degree, undergraduate, and post graduate to professional short course level.
Problem Solving
Ravensbourne’s graphic design program encourages students to develop a range of informed approaches to communicate with audiences across varied platforms and media. Key study topics include editorial design, type and typography, graphic design for promotion, and information design and data visualization.
Its prototyping room houses devices for all needs including 3D printers, digital garment printers, drills, heat presses, laser cutting, and sanders. The room is used by 200 people in different courses at Ravensbourne.
The prototyping room is in constant demand and the college needed a solution to help students understand the full printing process and eliminate outsourcing print work. The college heard about RISO digital duplicators and consulted with the graphic design department who thought the college would benefit from such a solution.
Soon after, Ravensbourne implemented the RISO ME9350 into the prototyping room. The ME9350 offers two color printing in a single pass with options for more than 20 different colors including fluorescent inks. It prints up to 150 sheets per minute (sh/m) with 600 dpi resolution for printing and scanning.
“The RISOs offer a nice mix of the hand-made look of traditional screen printing but with the flexibility and speed of a modern printer,” says Maaike van Neck, course leader, BA graphic design, Ravensbourne College.
The RISO duplicators are used to encourage students to think about the practical elements of the print and design process, which prepares them for future careers as graphic designers. For example, students use fluorescent inks to become more creative but also to think about what makes an impact, imposition, pagination, separation, and color registration.
Following the success of implementing the ME9350, the college discovered the A2 digital duplicator and soon invested in one. The digital duplicator prints on A2 size documents and A2-size imposition printing in a single pass. It prints up to 100 sh/m and handles paper up to 624×432 mm.
“The RISO duplicators have transformed printing for the students,” says Neck. “I work with the graphic design students and without the RISOs it would be difficult and costly to help them understand the full professional printing process.”
Ravensbourne students are satisfied with the college’s investment in RISO duplicators. According to Neck, the students love how they are quick, simple, and easy to use as they can be ready to print in nearly 60 seconds. “Our students learn more about printing methods, experiment with colors, and layering, all of which helps them be more creative.”
Lessons are designed to help students appreciate print, which Neck says is especially important since they are accustomed to toner and laserjet printers. Duplicator lessons focus on making a master, density of ink, and printing speeds. “They learn about the professional side of print management and why it is important to get things right. They can also learn about pricing and costs—all vital for their future careers,” offers Neck. Students are encouraged to think about substrate options when assessing work.
Digital Duplicators
Ravensbourne College uses the RISO ME and A2 duplicators to help students understand the printing process, enabling them to experiment and be more creative in a cost-effective way for the college. “The RISO duplicators are a cost-effective way to help our students think about the practical elements of the print design processes,” says Neck. “All of which helps prepare them for their future careers as graphic designers.” dps
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, A Lesson in Digital.
Apr2018, DPS Magazine
