Avondale-based Studio Q/Laserfoil has received the 2025 Pride In Print Supreme Award for what was called “a stunningly-designed overseas wedding invite suite perfectly realised through flawless execution of a range of traditional and contemporary print techniques”.
Judges glowed over the four-piece Kaya and Brian Wedding Invite Suite, noting the “huge technical difficulty required to achieve such quality across digital and letterpress printing, light debossing, diecuts, foiling, hand-stitching, and much more”.
“It's customised detail additionally involved the incorporation of actual vintage American stamps, a personalised seal, a precisely-bowed ribbon and hand-mixed Pantone colours on bespoke stock,” the judges continued.
“The suite further impressed through its precision to achieve perfect line up of elements on even the back of the envelope. The time that would have gone into such detailing on all of these features would be immense and everything was done technically and aesthetically perfectly.
“We saw a number of these beautifully-produced wedding invites for overseas customers this year, with this particular print buyer being based in New Jersey.
“The fact that these customers, who were based in New Jersey, are coming to Aotearoa New Zealand printers to have these invites done is absolutely amazing and speaks volumes to the quality produced in this country.”
Interviewed immediately off stage, Studio Q/Laserfoil’s director and owner Dave Trotter, letterpress specialist Tim Morris, and account manager Liesl Trotter described being blown away by the evening, which also saw the firm named Speciality Products Category winner.
The trio paid particular tribute to client Michaela McBride Calligraphy, noting McBride’s growing international reputation.
“She is an amazing New Zealand designer and calligrapher. Her market is almost entirely overseas – designs for beautiful weddings all around the world. Because of her reputation, she manages to attract those customers,” they said.
“She’s got an attention to detail that matches our attention to detail and she trusts us.”
The trio also highlighted the ecological values of the Colorplan paper used in the job, noting there were no polymer or plastic enhancements required; as well as the continuing and evolving relevance of the platen letterpress, and the crucial benefits of in-house capability.
“This job is a celebration of modern and old techniques, and that is what Studio Q/Laserfoil is about. But, we’re not just using the old presses in a traditional way – let’s not forget what has gone before and let’s not overlook what is coming up,” they added.
Well over 500 print industry individuals attended this year’s gala print event, which was held at the Cordis Auckland, and MC’d by New Zealand television and radio personality Jason Gunn.