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Raleigh, North Carolina is the home of Officina Briani, a design and letterpress printing studio that celebrates handcrafted communication.

The studio specializes in the synergy of restrained design, exquisite papers, skillful hand production, and the inherent tactile qualities of letterpress printing. Announcements, social and business stationery, corporate identity programs, presentation materials for architects and interior designers – all are made with a dedication to old-fashioned values of quality and craftsmanship.

Many people feel overwhelmed by technology; our lives are increasingly filtered through flat screen devices. We seek a healthier balance between that technology and our needs for community, connectedness to the physical world, and our spiritual lives.
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Letterpress printed pieces are tactile, each an original, with texture, depth, and subtle variations. They are imbued with humanizing and intimate qualities that you can touch. Recipients make a more personal connection to unique works of handcraft, helping the printed work to serve the fundamental spirit of human expression.

The studio offers hand-set metal type and ornaments, plus an intriguing marriage of computer-generated design with the oldest, slowest, most obsolete printing method – the relief printing of J. Gutenberg's time. Ironically, the computer is used to subvert its own larger effects!

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Letterpress printing classes are offered at Officina Briani as well. See the "Letterpress Classes" page for details.

Officina Briani offers exciting and unique experiences for corporate clients and design, advertising, and marketing firms. Relationship-building events bring co-workers or clients together where they learn to create and print a small project and get to know each other away from their normal roles and functions. See the "Hosted Events, Tours, Lectures" page for details.

Short educational events for graphic design firms, advertising and marketing agencies permit hands-on exploration of the historical antecedents of design now done with computer software. Events could culminate with each person printing their own copy of a keepsake on the hand press.
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The photo on the right is of an adhesive-backed photopolymer printing plate, from Boxcar Press. Designs created by computer software are commonly imaged onto these photopolymer plates and mounted on bases to be at the same height as lead type. The old letterpress presses can then be used to print the design. The use of these photopolymer plates are one of the "engines" of the revival of letterpress printing.

Book Arts in the Raleigh, North Carolina area
Officina Briani is part of a small group of businesses and individuals who love the art and craft of books and the printed word. Gallery Shibui, in Boylan Heights, Raleigh, is home to kindred spirits. The gallery provides wonderful, tactile papers, bookmaking supplies, and offers bookbinding & boxmaking classes. Gallery Shibui shares space with Rebus Works gallery/frame shop, 301 Kinsey St., Raleigh, 919-755-1300.

Award-winning work:


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Photographs by Bryan Rierson Photography and Brian Allen