USA Printing and Shipping: Ex Why Zed’s 13 Inspiring Case Studies
An informative 5 minute read.
At Ex Why Zed, we’ve built our reputation on elevating creative visions through exceptional print services—both at home and across the pond. Whether you’re looking to produce a promotional piece, a one-of-a-kind coffee table book, or a compelling photobook to showcase your work, our process combines artistry, efficiency, and reliability. If you’re planning your next printing project in the USA, we understand that quality, timeliness, and seamless delivery are top priorities. To help you make informed choices when you are planning your USA printing and shipping, we’ve analysed and dissected a series of recent creative printing projects that we shipped to the States. Each case study reveals how strategic design decisions, thoughtful material selections, and our commitment to smooth logistics can transform an idea into a stunning final product.
Below, you’ll discover 13 examples that highlight not just the final look and feel of these printed works, but also the collaborative journey—our conversations with clients, our creative solutions, and how we managed to ship them successfully to the USA. These stories illustrate the importance of tailoring your print run to suit the unique needs of your project, right down to the paper types, finishing techniques, and binding choices. We hope these insights inspire you to reimagine what’s possible with a well-executed print project and give you the confidence to explore new ideas for your own creative work.
Rewild Ojai – Native Garden Tour 2024: A Promotional Book Printing Success
Project Overview
Environmental passion intertwines with artistic storytelling in Rewild Ojai – Native Garden Tour 2024, an inspired promotional book that merges conservation messages with tactile print elements. From the outset, the client was keen to use an eco-friendly paper stock to honour the project’s commitment to sustainability. We recommended Revive 100 Uncoated, a choice that aligns perfectly with the book’s earthy, nature-centric ethos. The final publication features stunning full-colour photography of Ojai’s vibrant landscapes, each page shining with flora and fauna rendered in rich detail. Perfect binding ensures a polished spine, while the uncoated pages invite the reader to feel closer to nature.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
One of the most distinctive aspects of this project lies in the cover design, which features deep blues and lush silhouettes that evoke Ojai’s wilderness. The client’s request for a textured yet premium look guided us toward uncoated stock—a brilliant way to emphasise a commitment to the environment. Throughout the book, typography remains bold yet unobtrusive, foregrounding the stunning imagery and informative text. This thoughtful synergy of design, paper choice, and packaging ensures a seamless reading experience, with each page conjuring the sensory delight of a walk through the Californian wild.
Learn more about Rewild Ojai – Native Garden Tour 2024
Corona Diary 2: A Self-Published Book Printing Triumph
Project Overview
Photographer Reuben Radding returned to us with Corona Diary 2, an evocative black-and-white zine capturing life in Brooklyn and Manhattan during the height of the pandemic. The zine’s A5 wire-stitched booklet format proved both cost-effective and visually striking, using 170gsm silk pages for a crisp yet tactile finish. This approach let Radding’s raw street photography speak for itself—each image printed with an arresting clarity that underscores the project’s emotive subject matter.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
Opting for a self-cover (where the cover and inner pages share the same stock) was a masterstroke, making the zine affordable and cohesive. Monochrome printing in black ink throughout accentuates the grittiness of Radding’s images, turning each page into a brooding snapshot of urban life under lockdown. With swift transatlantic shipping to the USA, the client could distribute these diaries without delays, demonstrating our knack for smooth, fast delivery in complex times.
Learn more about Corona Diary 2
Now and Forever Zine by Valerie Bower: A Zine Printing Gem
Project Overview
Now and Forever Zine captures the energetic world of street and concert photography in an instantly memorable monochrome style. Published in a compact zine format, it expertly melds minimal text with bold imagery, inviting readers into a raw, almost cinematic experience. The black-and-white aesthetic references the look of 1970s and 1980s photo magazines, while the glossy cover adds a layer of modern sophistication.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
Bower’s playful use of negative space and classic typography let the photographs breathe, ensuring each image commands attention without distraction. A perfect binding, combined with smooth interior stock, contributes to the zine’s tactile appeal. Even subtle details, such as aligning text blocks precisely with the images, speak to the photographer’s meticulous creative direction. Shipped swiftly to the USA, these booklets encapsulate how a forward-thinking zine can bring timeless authenticity to contemporary photo projects.
Learn more about Now and Forever Zine
Phoenix to San Antonio: A Transatlantic Photobook Printing Adventure
Project Overview
In Phoenix to San Antonio, two talented photographers embarked on a road trip across the American Southwest, documenting dynamic communities and landscapes along the way. Keen to retain a hands-on, indie vibe, the creators chose a 203×152mm zine format on 100% recycled uncoated paper. The result? A tactile publication that resonates with the rugged yet soulful tone of the journey itself.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
Perfect binding offers a polished finish, ensuring the images flow seamlessly from one page to the next. Meanwhile, the slightly off-white surface of the recycled stock underscores the authenticity of the road trip theme, giving each photo a natural warmth. From shipping logistics to final proof checks, our team ensured a stress-free process for delivering these photobooks to the USA, uniting cultural storytelling with eco-conscious production.
Learn more about Phoenix to San Antonio
Vevo dscvr Ones to Watch: A Cutting-Edge Magazine Printing Case
Project Overview
Music video giant Vevo reached out to produce their very first print publication, spotlighting 20 up-and-coming artists. Their 254×203mm magazines needed to align with Vevo’s digital-forward brand ethos and the cutting-edge style of the featured musicians. With a 300gsm uncoated cover and interior text pages featuring four-colour printing, each edition resonates with Vevo’s signature cool factor.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
The matt lamination on the cover delivers a contemporary, tactile effect, setting a premium stage for the bold artist photography within. By varying cover designs for each of the 20 artists, the publication feels both curated and collectible. Balancing a tight turnaround and shipping copies to both the UK and the USA required impeccable coordination—an area where we thrive. The final magazines arrived just after Thanksgiving, ready to dazzle music fans across multiple time zones.
Learn more about Vevo dscvr Ones to Watch
Ephemera Magazine Issue 7/8: Fashion Magazine Printing at Its Finest
Project Overview
Ephemera Magazine Issue 7/8 is an intricate fusion of fashion, art, and cultural essays. Sporting a 190×127mm format, it’s distinctively sized to stand out in a sea of standard glossies. The cover’s glossy lamination on 300gsm stock contrasts beautifully with the 150gsm uncoated interior pages—an intentional choice to highlight the editorial’s dual focus on glam aesthetics and tactile storytelling.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
We used four-colour printing to capture the subtle hues of each fashion spread and the delicate artwork that characterises the magazine. Perfect binding adds a sleek, refined finish, ensuring the publication exudes high-end appeal while still feeling approachable. By maintaining consistent branding elements—such as unified typography and strategic use of white space—the magazine remains cohesive yet visually rich. Shipped quickly and reliably to the USA, these stunning issues uphold the spirit of experimental fashion.
Learn more about Ephemera Magazine Issue 7/8
Fever Dream by Renee Cornue: A Premium Hardback Book Printing Journey
Project Overview
A testament to grandeur and creativity, Fever Dream is a 304×304mm photography book that offers expansive page spreads. Each turn of the page reveals ethereal images, printed on 200gsm uncoated stock and section-sewn for a lay-flat experience. Designed in Durango, Colorado and printed in Colchester, this project culminated in a seamless FedEx shipment to the States.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
The matt-laminated cover and sturdy greyboard underlay combine to form a hardback that feels luxurious from the first touch. The uncoated paper further complements the soft, dreamlike mood of Cornue’s images, enhancing their depth and emotional appeal. By opting for section-sewn binding, the photographer ensured that her dramatic full-bleed spreads open fully without losing detail in the gutter, proving how thoughtful binding choices can elevate the entire viewing experience.
Learn more about Fever Dream
Ankaret Ilhaam by Annie Brooks: Myth Meets Bespoke Book Printing
Project Overview
Ankaret Ilhaam is a case-bound masterpiece drenched in mythical allure. Its terracotta-coloured linen cover wraps seamlessly over greyboard, accentuated by glimmering gold foil. Inside, 50 pages of uncoated 170gsm stock feature sweeping illustrations that pair beautifully with the book’s ancient narrative. The design choices reflect a harmonious blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern printing techniques.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
By utilising Wibalin Finelinen, the book exudes a tactile warmth that instantly transports readers to a world steeped in lore. The interior layouts are meticulously paced, with text and illustrations dancing in sync across each page to reveal Annie Brooks’ intricately woven mythos. Topping it off, a full-colour dust jacket printed on 170gsm silk with matt lamination adds protection and panache. Shipped safely to the USA, this bespoke work exemplifies how artisanal finishes can underscore a book’s thematic gravitas.
Learn more about Ankaret Ilhaam
Mars and Mara Explore The Stars: Children’s Story Book Printing for Young Explorers
Project Overview
This cosmic tale follows Mara and her trusty dog, Mars, on interplanetary adventures. Crafted with vibrant full-bleed illustrations, the children’s storybook features 170gsm silk pages and a sturdy case-bound cover—perfect for young, enthusiastic hands. The 230×230mm format offers enough room for large, eye-catching artwork, while still being easy for children to hold.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
High-quality binding was non-negotiable, given the expected frequency of re-reads. We combined a matt-laminated cover over greyboard for a soft yet durable finish, ensuring longevity and child-friendliness. Typography is kept simple, guiding early readers without distracting from the colourful cosmic backdrops. Delivered promptly to the USA, Mars and Mara Explore The Stars exemplifies how clever design and robust construction can produce a visually enchanting, child-focused publication.
Learn more about Mars and Mara Explore The Stars
First Words: Educational Phonics Book Printing with a Cultural Twist
Project Overview
Rachelle Luna’s First Words: Mixing ABCs & Filipino Heritage merges language lessons with vibrant cultural snapshots. Aiming to inspire bilingual growth and foster pride in Filipino-American communities, Luna envisioned a hardcover children’s book that stands up to frequent use while radiating energy and warmth.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
The cover’s playful illustration sets the tone, inviting young readers to immerse themselves in bright colours and approachable typography. Our uncoated interior pages ensure easy readability and a friendly feel to each spread. The final case-bound format, shipped securely to the States, showcases how a high-quality hardcover can enrich the educational experience.
Learn more about First Words
The Skate Art of Yaia: Skateboard Art Book Printing in Motion
Project Overview
Capturing a subculture known for its energetic style, The Skate Art of Yaia merges skateboard deck designs with behind-the-scenes sketches and commentary. A matt-laminated, hardback cover accented by gloss Spot UV creates a tactile play of matte and shine—mirroring the rough-meets-sleek aesthetic of modern skateboarding culture.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
Inside, silk paper pages lend the artwork a vibrant sheen, and the carefully chosen size allows each skateboard design to be displayed in full detail. The chronological layout provides readers with a clear narrative of the artist’s evolution. Our team ensured that all shipping and customs details were addressed upfront, so the final books arrived in the USA seamlessly, spotlighting the synergy of rebellious design and polished execution.
Learn more about The Skate Art of Yaia
Je M’appelle by Studio Jordan NYC: Fashion Photography Booklet Printing
Project Overview
Je M’appelle is a capsule series of fashion photography booklets that pairs minimalist design with striking, statement imagery. Studio Jordan NYC’s signature monochrome shots align with occasional splashes of colour, manifesting a subtle tension between edgy modernity and timeless glamour. Staple binding suited the zine format, making it both budget-friendly and delightfully portable.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
The handheld size and open layout draw attention to each photo’s emotional intensity. By maintaining ample white space and a straightforward typographic approach, Studio Jordan emphasises the photographic content. Subtly placed emojis and graphical accents tie the design to contemporary pop culture, ensuring a fresh vibe. Finally, our robust proofing process helped correct initial visual mistakes, guaranteeing that these beauties arrived in the USA looking sharp and cohesive.
Learn more about Je M’appelle
Colorado by Alex Matragos: A Perfect Bound Photobook Printing Marvel
Project Overview
A love letter to the sweeping landscapes of the Centennial State, Colorado by Alex Matragos harnesses perfect binding to present 94 pages of high-quality imagery. Printed on 170gsm uncoated stock with a 250gsm uncoated cover, the photobook achieves a delicate balance between durability and the organic feel of natural textures—mirroring the rugged softness of Colorado’s terrain.
Creative Print Choices & Winning Design Decisions
By using uncoated pages, Matragos retained the “earthy” warmth that underscores each landscape photograph. Perfect binding ensured clean lines along the spine, presenting a cohesive story arc across high-altitude vistas, winding trails, and sunlit mountainsides. Once approved, we took care of swift shipping to the USA, completing a collaboration that demonstrates how purposeful material selection can amplify a photographer’s artistic vision.
Learn more about Colorado
Why Ex Why Zed for Your Next USA Printing and Shipping Project?
Across all these case studies, we’ve strived to highlight how each project’s success stems from open dialogue, creative synergy, and thorough production planning. When it comes to USA printing and shipping, our track record speaks volumes—we consistently handle international delivery logistics, navigate customs with ease, and offer strategic advice on print specs for clients abroad.
Get Your Vision on Paper with our seamless USA Printing and Shipping
Our holistic approach ensures that you’ll receive not only a beautifully finished product but also a smooth experience from quote to delivery. Ready to see your project soar across the Atlantic and land in readers’ hands? We’re here to guide you through every phase, from the first spark of inspiration to the moment your book, zine, or magazine is unpacked stateside. Get in touch to explore how we can bring your ideas to life and make USA printing and shipping a hassle-free reality.
