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Push-Press

posted by Marcroy May 30, 2014

Push—Press is a Risograph printing press based in Singapore, running a 2-drum Risograph MZ 770 Duplicator. They are particularly interested in exploring the aesthetic, ideological, and technical potential of a Risograph for purposes of self-publication and production of small to medium-run printed matter in their part of the world.Push—Press was started in 2013 by Randy Yeo and Sean Kelvin Khoo. Both practicing designers, Push—Press serves as an experimental platform to explore the possibilities of a Risograph printing through collaboration, commercial and self-initiated work.

They are attacted to both a Risograph’s capabilities (spot/fluorescent colours, vibrant and matte output, cost effectiveness) and limitations (paper size, spot colours only, only able to print on uncoated stock). This tends to contribute to a very particular aesthetic that leans towards an ideological outlook about design and typography that they are heavily influenced by. They are also interested in discovering how the technology of a Risograph can contribute to the appreciation and better understanding of this aesthetic, and more importantly, the ideology that underpins it.

As Singapore matures as a nation, they’ve notice that people are increasingly trying to find a voice for themselves. Accordingly, there has also been an increased interest in self publishing and self-initiated work. The technology of the Risograph enables the production of printed matter in small to medium runs at a quicker speed and a lower cost than offset or digital printers. This particular middle ground (100—500 copies) works well for items such as posters, zines, postcards, etc. “Aesthetically, Singapore is just about ready for it.”