New Dimensions @ Barras Art and Design (Glasgow)

Paper. It’s a material that everyone, creative or not, has used. Drawing pictures in childhood, reading a book or signing an important document, it’s a medium deeply embedded in our daily lives. But nowhere else does its vast potential come to life better than in the creative sphere. The scrap of paper that saw the scrawl of that first idea, the thick textured paper that makes its way through a Risograph printer, the carefully selected sheets that comprise a new artist monograph; its uses are many and its effects – both visual and physical – are profound.

Few prove this more than GF Smith and Gmund, two of the longest running and most respected creative paper suppliers and producers in the world. To boot, GF Smith will soon be unveiling its new forward-facing rebrand, designed by the cause-led branding and communications agency Templo. With such a long legacy in paper, and at such an interesting point in its history, GF Smith are in the unique position of being able to detect and predict what the future of paper might look like. This vision is the basis of its upcoming event, New Dimensions: The Future of Paper, in partnership with Gmund and It’s Nice That, coming to stages across the UK, from London to Manchester and Glasgow. Here, you’ll get the chance to be one of the first people to get the behind the scenes of GF Smith’s rebrand, as GF Smith’s global brand director Ben Watkinson and Templo’s founders Pali Palavathanan and Anoushka Rodda will share the ins and outs of how they created a visual world that both looks to the future and harnesses the breadth of colour GF Smith has to offer, as well as hearing from some exciting creative voices.

In an increasingly digital world, where does paper stand? How does it hold up against the ease of screens and online creation? The answer? Very well. A new generation of creatives – those who’ve entered the creative industry with both technology and paper at their fingertips – are showing the ever-inventive ways that the two mediums can elevate each other. At New Dimensions, GF Smith and It’s Nice That have invited a selection of creatives who are blending analogue and digital mediums in unique and interesting ways, forging a new path for the future of paper. They’ll be giving us an insight into their practices, and the many ways we can rethink the role of the most enduring of creative materials.

Our speakers for the evening...

Charles Young

Charles Young – also known by his Instagram moniker Paper Holm – crafts paper sculptures; they’re beautiful, tiny masterpieces that show the versatile nature of the medium. The colour of paper is also a key facet of his work, with his ongoing passion project of structures based on colour combinations in the painter Wada Sanzo’s 1930 book Dictionary of Colour Combinations. In recent years, Charles has made his structures more complex too, making them mobile and then animating them in motion. At New Dimensions Charles will be sharing with the audience why paper is a medium full of possibilities beyond what we might initially expect, and how he turned to animation to elevate his creations.

Inès Gradot

Inès Gradot is a creative artist known for mixing mediums. Her trademark prints of flowers, pastoral scenes and pleasing patterns begin as inky marker pen drawings before becoming digital files to be put through a Risograph printer, the end result bursting with vibrancy and colour. Alongside her creative practice, Inès is also a Risograph technician at Glasgow’s famous Risotto Studio. And so, at New Dimensions, Inès will be shedding light on just what it takes to perfect everyone’s favourite print method, and the inventive ways you can make use of its imperfect nature with paper and colour choices.

Templo

Templo is a cause-led branding agency with one specific mission sitting at the core of everything they do: “using the positive power of design for social change”. Founded by creative director Pali Palavathanan and managing director Anoushka Rodda, Templo has developed a tried and tested way of working – close collaboration and co-creation with its clients – resulting in work that’s authentic, attention-grabbing and impactful.

For more than a decade, it has partnered with the United Nations, Climate Change Committee, Free Syria’s Disappeared, Amnesty International, the V&A and British Council and now GF Smith, to tackle issues across climate change, human rights and community empowerment. At each New Dimensions event they’ll be joined by GF Smith’s global head of brand Ben Watkinson to give the audience an exclusive first look into the ins and outs of how they developed GF Smith’s dynamic, vibrant and future-facing new brand.

Useful information

Doors open at 6.30pm and the talks will begin around 7.15pm.

Kindly note that entry will be via Barras Art & Design, 54 Calton Entry, Glasgow G40 2SB.

Please note this event is over 18 and the venue operates a challenge 25 policy so please bring an ID.

Each ticket offers one complimentary drink then the bar will be cashless.

Photography and filming may be taken at this event for marketing and promotional purposes. If you prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please notify one of our team on the day.

The venue is wheelchair accessible. If you have any accessibility requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact [email protected].

If you’re unable to attend, kindly cancel your tickets so we can offer a place to attendees on the waitlist.

Host or Publisher It's Nice That