A beginner’s guide to screen printing, by a complete beginner.

[This is a wrap up of a screen printing course I took with The Print Club London. It’s mainly so I can remember what to do next time I give it a go, but I hope you find it helpful too!]

I got my start in graphic design as a digital designer, working for the website arm of a magazine in London. On the job, I picked up the basics of print design, largely by shadowing a colleague.

I quickly realised how satisfying working in print can be. When I could actually hold my designs in my hands, I found that I felt much more of a connection to my work, and I began to appreciate the finer details. There’s something quite therapeutic about spawning something tangible, over designing a webpage that you can only share on screen.

During my time at this publishing company, I visited the print factory where the magazines were made, and learnt more about different printing techniques. But one method that I’ve always wanted to try is screen printing. I have at least four screen prints on the walls in my home, and I absolutely adore the styles that are possible using this very simple technique. So last week I called in a belated Christmas present from my wife Laura and took a two-day screen printing course at The Print Club, London.