Archigrams by Michie Cao
San Francisco designer Michie Cao was facing a bit of a dilemma in her undergrad architectural studies. As a decidedly visual learner she struggled to take in the encyclopedic knowledge often required of students in this challenging field. She was inspired by this difficulty to create her own set of iconic flash cards. The cards featured minimal, stripped down diagrams of the most prominent designs in the industry. This visual experiment not only helped improve her grades, it also helped steer and solidify her career path as an artist.
Michie eventually transitioned into visual and interaction design, and in grad school she faced another challenge - this time she had to develop a design product and earn at least $1000 from it. She realized that her flash cards were the perfect product, called them “Archigrams” and quickly built an online business. It’s a great case study of how scratching an itch often creates profitable solutions, and even entire industries. Never underestimate the power of a good and much-needed idea!
All images courtesy of Mochi Cao
How FinePrintArt.com Maintains Its Ad-Free Creative Platform
FinePrintArt.com is a unique platform developed and maintained by Fine Print New York, experts in the restoration of antique, rare & damaged wallpapers. This collaboration allows this website to offer insightful, ad-free content on creative artists and the evolution of visual branding. Fine Print's expertise in restoring vintage designs directly informs the rich, well-researched articles found here, showcasing our commitment to both historical preservation and contemporary artistic exploration.
Meet the Founders: The Creative Minds Behind Our Platform
Joseph Gornail a distinguished printer/photographer and the visionary behind Fine Print New York, hails from SoHo, Manhattan. Rooted in a family tradition of NYC printing, Joseph mastered the craft as a teenager. His significant impact on the New York printing industry ignited in 1996 with Dolo Records/Stretch Armstrong. He founded All City Marketing & Printing in the late '90s and co-created the iconic streetwear label Orchard Street with partners Benjamin Holloway and Greig Bennett in 1999. In 2004, Joseph launched Fine Print NYC, establishing it as a leading commercial printing firm. The company debuted with a landmark project for Nike, epitomizing innovation and resilience in the modern digital landscape.
Steven Garcia a prominent designer/illustrator and creative director at Fine Print, originates from Bushwick, Brooklyn. A graduate of Fashion Industries High School and the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), Steven has carved a notable path in the design world. His early career highlights include a role as a sought-after professional retoucher and storyboard artist at Saatchi & Saatchi in 1996. Embracing his entrepreneurial side, Steven founded ShinyDesign in 1998, which later became a key design partner for Fine Print NYC in 2004. His extensive portfolio features collaborations with elite brands such as Snapple, The Waldorf Astoria, Netflix and Sony, cementing his status as a key influencer in New York's vibrant advertising & design industry.