1. Initiating a Project

2. Creative Process

3. Printing and Delivery

1. Initiate a project

Get started by completing the Project Request form and setting up a meeting with Publications & Creative Services (702-2293). The process of completing the Project Request form will help you make decisions about your publication and let us know how we can best assist you. Consideration of the following points might be particularly useful:

• Determining what you want. One good way of preparing for your first meeting with Publications & Creative Services is to take a few minutes to answer some basic questions such as: What is your message? Who is your audience? What is your purpose? At this stage, it may be helpful to browse through sample publications. (Samples are available at our office.)


• Establishing a budget. We will submit to you a cost proposal based on the number of hours we estimate will be required to complete the various components of your job. The lower amount indicated is the minimum that is likely to be needed to complete the job, and it is our goal to keep costs close to that end of the range. We will keep you informed if unanticipated developments have an impact on expenses, and will provide a revised project proposal if required or requested. Please ask for specifics if you have questions or concerns as the work on your publication progresses.


• Setting deadlines. Publications not only vary in appearance and content, but also in the time required to produce them. A small, one-color flyer with no images may be completed in a few weeks. On the other hand, a longer, full-color brochure may require several months from concept to delivery. We will work with you to establish and maintain a schedule.

2. Creative Process

Generating text and selecting images. You may provide us with text, or you may work with us to select a writer to generate your copy. If your publication will include images, you may already have some that are appropriate or you may use our image library. Or, if you need to commission a professional freelance photographer, we will provide art direction.

Editing, designing, and keylining. We will submit text to you for approval after it has been edited and proofread. Your revised text will then be prepared for layout by a graphic designer and keyliner.

The approval process. Your project manager will schedule a meeting to present the layout to you. Typically, you will then circulate the draft within your office or department. You will be asked to return a "sign-off sheet" to the project manager indicating whether or not you wish to make changes to the text, images, and graphics. Based on the complexity of your review process, this interchange may occur several times. Your publication will not be sent to the printer until you have provided the project manager with an "okay to print."

3. Printing and Delivery

Printing. Publications & Creative Services maintains working relationships with a number of reliable commerical printing plants in the area. We bid out your job and offer you assistance in determining which would be the best printer for your particular piece at the most competitive price. After your publication goes to press, we continue to monitor the process. Our staff reviews all of the proofs in an effort to ensure that the printing job is of acceptable quality. We inspect the first samples and verify that timely delivery is made to the location(s) you have specified.

Billing. Within 60-90 days after your publication delivers, we will send you an invoice that itemizes the costs incurred along with an Interdepartmental Order form (Form 62).

University Publications & Creative Services | ©2007 The University of Chicago®
6030 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 | 773-702-2293