Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) is an international forum of industry professionals and academics dedicated to scientific research and technological innovation in printing and graphic communications. It helps university students improve their technical knowledge and skills as they prepare for a graphic arts career. TAGA is the premier platform for presenting and publishing research studies and innovations and showcasing student talent. For more information visit the TAGA website.

In this competition, our task is to craft a booklet entirely from the ground up. The timeline is divided into two phases, with the first stage focusing on development and design, spanning 5 months, followed by the second stage dedicated to print and production, lasting 2 1/2 months.

The development stage involves strategizing and the design phase. As a team, we initiate brainstorming sessions to decide on the theme, drawing inspiration from ‘Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,’ a Nickelodeon show from the early 2000s. Once the theme is chosen, we divide into groups, each assigned to different sections of the booklet. I led the content group, responsible for designing the meaty section of the booklet, including line designs, page numbers, and textual content. Additionally, I contributed to the website group, tasked with creating a website documenting the production process and detailing our thought processes.

The production stage brought our creation to life, and once again, we divided into groups. This time, I led the pages group, responsible for printing and cutting 100 booklets, each with 113 pages, totaling 11,300 pages. My team successfully met the required booklet count ahead of schedule. In previous years, the teams faced challenges, struggling to meet deadlines and falling behind at times. By producing pages earlier than expected, my team’s efficiency relieved tension across all groups, ensuring a seamless production process.