Bad Press

Bad Press is a Chicago-based publishing collective. We produce printed matter and exist as an accessible resource for the local community. Our goal is to help creators bring their concepts to fruition and contribute to growth of Chicago’s publishing culture.

I worked with my friends and cofounders, Sarah Gardner and Jared Sawdey, to develop a flexible brand for our small press. The look and feel is playful and welcoming to those both familiar and unfamiliar with risograph printing. We intentionally chose a variety of typefaces that break the traditional expectations of graphic design. We did this to erase any of our audience’s concerns about not having publishing experience, as the risograph is an imperfect printing method. We teach designers how to use the risograph and assist writers with layout and design needs. We understand everyone will need something different from Bad Press, and that variety is what our brand reflects.