<p class="p1">I have written in the past about a lot of the excitement going on at <a href="http://www.mohawkconnects.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mohawk</a> — but I only got a larger sense of their vision &; philosophy this past <a href="http://nationalstationeryshow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Stationery Show</a>, when I got to sit down with Mohawk&#8217;s Senior Vice President of Marketing Bart Robinson and its VP Business Development and Creative Director Chris Harrold.</p>
<p class="p1">The company&#8217;s perspective encompasses an amazing blend of old (e.g. the fascinating <a href="https://www.mohawkconnects.com/article/mohawk-blog/strathmore-timeline-1898-1969">Strathmore Archives</a>) that in many ways has influenced the new (e.g. their newly released <a href="https://www.mohawkconnects.com/products/paper/strathmore" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strathmore Pure Cotton Letterpress Papers</a> in four lovely shades, proudly made in the U.S.A.).</p>
<p class="p1"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4985" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/StrathmorePureCottonLetterpress_9809.jpg" alt="StrathmorePureCottonLetterpress_9809" width="618" height="412" /></p>
<p class="p1">Meanwhile, the company keeps its finger firmly fixed on the pulse of how paper interacts with technology: the company&#8217;s <a href="https://pinholepress.com/?gclid=COb5lI3_gb8CFQyCaQodDpQA_w" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pinhole Press</a> was among the first to understand that customers want quality integrated into their papers and gifts featuring digital photos, while Mohawk Live<span style="color: #424242;">, Mohawk’s augmented reality app, allows Mohawk Maker Quarterly readers to experience enhanced content and educational resources such as augmented reality, video, and other web-based content</span><span style="font-size: 13px;">.</span></p>
<p class="p1">With that kind of grasp of the role paper can play in modern lifestyles, I knew Chris would be a perfect Five Questions subject.</p>
<p class="p1"><img class="alignleft wp-image-4990" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/c_harrold_k_close.jpg" alt="c_harrold_k_close" width="250" height="300" />1.<span class="s1"> SS: </span>How did you get into this crazy business?</p>
<p class="p2">CH: Well … I needed a job! I had finished an MFA in photography in 1983 and couldn’t find a teaching job. I found work at a photo finishing lab, which was starting a desktop publishing service bureau. This was my introduction to printing and paper! In that job I touched software (circa 1985!), ink and quoted printing jobs. We have no idea what we were doing, but I fell in love with paper. After I left there I looked for a job in the paper business. I came to Mohawk in 1990 and have never looked back!</p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">2.</span><span class="s3"> SS: </span>Are there any design or lifestyle trends you are finding yourself particularly intrigued with these days?</p>
<p class="p2">CH: With a background in fine art photography, I find the democratization of photography thru digital technology to be amazing. The simplicity and immediacy of mobile image capture has created a world of visual communicators using images to build community.</p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">3.</span><span class="s3"> SS: </span>What letter, card or invitation first comes to mind as the best you&#8217;ve ever received?</p>
<p class="p2">CH: Recently I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days with Paul Shaw going through Mohawk’s extensive Strathmore archives. Not only is Paul a noted design historian, but also a designer and calligrapher. A few days after our visit, I received the most amazing hand-lettered thank-you note from Paul which featured my name nearly filling the entire face of the envelope.</p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">4.</span><span class="s3"> SS: </span>What are your three favorite paper lines?</p>
<p class="p2">CH: Oh now that’s unfair! It’s like asking if you have a favorite child! But now that you have asked … I would have to say <a href="http://www.mohawkconnects.com/products/paper/mohawk-superfine" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mohawk Superfine</a> is at the top of the list. It is the Mohawk flagship and just the most beautiful paper to use for all kinds of printing. [Mohawk Maker Quarterly #1, shown below, was printed on it.]</p>
<p class="p2"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4979" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Mohawk_Quarterly_Cover_Superfine.jpg" alt="Mohawk_Quarterly_Cover_Superfine" width="618" height="606" /></p>
<p class="p2">Then I would need to talk about colored papers like <a href="http://www.mohawkconnects.com/products/paper/mohawk-via" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Via</a>. In a world increasingly dominated by smooth glass displays, colors and textures seem all the more special. [Shown below and at the top of this post; Mohawk Quarterly #4 was printed on it.]</p><div class="inline-post clearfix"><div class="see-also byline">See also</div><div id="block-wrap-42441" class="block-wrap-native block-wrap block-wrap-23 block-css-42441 block-wrap-classic columns__m--1 elements-design-3 block-ani block-skin-0 tipi-box block-wrap-thumbnail ppl-m-1 clearfix" data-id="42441" data-base="0"><div class="tipi-row-inner-style clearfix"><div class="tipi-row-inner-box contents sticky--wrap"><div class="block block-23 clearfix"><article class="tipi-xs-12 clearfix with-fi ani-base tipi-xs-typo split-1 split-design-1 loop-0 preview-thumbnail preview-23 elements-design-3 post-19261 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-sponsored-post tag-central-crafts tag-cortona-handmade-leather-bound-extra-large-journal tag-journal tag-luxury tag-personalised-leather-journal tag-personalized-leather-journals tag-sarah-schwartz tag-stationery-blog tag-stationery-design tag-stationery-designer tag-the-paper-chronicles" style="--animation-order:0"><div class="preview-mini-wrap clearfix"><div class="mask"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/the-journal-to-literally-end-all-journals/" class="mask-img"><img width="100" height="100" src="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/14478-4.jpg?resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/14478-4.jpg?resize=150%2C150&;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/14478-4.jpg?resize=200%2C200&;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/14478-4.jpg?resize=293%2C293&;ssl=1 293w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/14478-4.jpg?resize=75%2C75&;ssl=1 75w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/14478-4.jpg?resize=390%2C390&;ssl=1 390w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/14478-4.jpg?resize=24%2C24&;ssl=1 24w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/14478-4.jpg?resize=48%2C48&;ssl=1 48w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/14478-4.jpg?resize=96%2C96&;ssl=1 96w" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" /></a></div><div class="meta"><div class="byline byline-2 byline-cats-design-4"><div class="byline-part cats"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/category/sponsored-post/" style="color:#b79b0d" class="cat">Sponsored</a></div></div><div class="title-wrap"><h3 class="title"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/the-journal-to-literally-end-all-journals/">The Journal to Literally End All Journals!</a></h3></div><div class="byline byline-3"><span class="byline-part date"><i class="tipi-i-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> <time class="entry-date published dateCreated flipboard-date" datetime="2017-09-05T12:54:44+00:00">September 5, 2017</time></span><span class="byline-part likes-count"><a href="#" class="tipi-like-count " data-pid="19261"><span class="likes-heart"><i class="tipi-i-heart-o" aria-hidden="true"></i><i class="tipi-i-heart" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><span class="tipi-value">0</span></a></span></div></div></div></article></div></div></div></div></div></tipimidc>
<p class="p2"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4989" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/via_grade-image.jpg" alt="via_grade image" width="618" height="409" /></p>
<p class="p2">And last but not least, Strathmore Pure Cotton Letterpress paper is a new obsession of mine. This was a project I had the pleasure of working on from concept to delivery. Our papermakers at Mohawk did a brilliant job using our paper machines to create a luxurious, amazing paper surface that is like nothing else made domestically.</p>
<p class="p2"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4986" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/StrathmorePureCottonLetterpress_9813.jpg" alt="StrathmorePureCottonLetterpress_9813" width="618" height="412" /></p>
<p class="p4">5.<span class="s1"> SS: </span>Is there anything you do personally to keep letter-writing, card-sending and invitation using alive?</p>
<p class="p2">CH: Whenever I send a package of samples to someone I dive in to my drawer of cards and envelopes and include a hand written note. And not just any paper will do … I am a little spoiled having some pretty amazing engraved note cards and tissue lined envelopes from companies like <a href="http://thornwillow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thornwillow Press</a>, who make some of the most beautiful stationery sets today.</p>
<p class="p2"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4987" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/StrathmorePureCottonLetterpress_9822.jpg" alt="StrathmorePureCottonLetterpress_9822" width="618" height="412" /></p>
<p> ;</p>


The Five Questions: Mohawk’s Chris Harrold
