International recognition for Buroform. Our printing company is increasingly appearing on the radar of designers and companies from abroad. One of these is Common Modern from Switzerland, with whom we have been working closely since last year. The production agency specialises in luxury office supplies, from planners to notepads and notebooks, which stand out for their natural prints in bold colour combinations. We spoke to founder Claire Evrard about her special feeling for high-quality printing and how she extends this to her so-called “Nature Pop style”.
“I worked as a graphic designer for over 20 years for all kinds of clients, from small boutiques to large international companies. My work has taken me all over the world, to Melbourne, London, New York and Singapore. I have worked with so many brands and seen them flourish that at a certain point I wanted to start my own brand. Because you can’t find many office supplies with a distinctive graphic style in Switzerland, my choice was quickly made. What’s more, I’ve always loved printed matter. During my career, I’ve worked with many printers. I loved seeing how the printing process unfolds. Four years ago, I officially launched Common Modern, which focuses specifically on everyday office products with a playful yet sophisticated design.
“Nature is my greatest source of inspiration. My graphic patterns and motifs always start from natural forms and silhouettes. Colour also plays a central role: I love bold and unexpected colour combinations. That’s how I developed my own style, which I call Nature Pop — nature-inspired designs that really make a statement. For instance, my first collection is called Ginkgo Pop. It was created from the leaves of a young Ginkgo Biloba tree growing at my home. Other collections, in turn, are inspired by local Swiss fruits, shells from Australia, or the forests surrounding the region where I live.”
“The core idea behind Common Modern is to design everyday stationery with that little extra touch of finesse. Notebooks, calendars, cards, planners — we always try to add something special. We want to create products that inspire people, that they won’t just throw away after use. Our pieces are made to be given, enjoyed and kept. Increasingly, we also design stationery collections for museums that connect with our Nature Pop style.”
“I worry about our planet — and about the future of our children. With Common Modern, the goal isn’t simply to put more stuff into the world. Our products must be both functional and recyclable. Materials, production processes, partners — everything and everyone we work with must align with that vision. Sustainability is, in that sense, woven into the very fabric of our company philosophy.”
“A while ago, I was looking for a new binding technique for a special planner I had designed. At some point, I got in touch with Brepols, a partner of Buroform. They suggested I pay you a visit and introduced me to Jesse. After a great conversation and a tour of the printing house, things started to take off from there.”
“For me, it’s important to create products of real quality — and at the same time, to keep the production process as close to home as possible. I was looking for a partner within the EU anyway. Since my husband is Belgian, I naturally looked towards Belgium. I have a lot of family here and often visit, both personally and for work. From the very first contact, I had a really good feeling. Jesse gave me a tour of the printing house and showed me a range of completed projects — and I was immediately impressed. Attention to detail means everything to me, and it’s clear that Buroform shares that same mindset. I love the feel of paper, the sensation of writing on it, the richness and depth of colour, the precision of binding, the special printing techniques… The fact that Jesse and his team immediately understood where I wanted to go with my vision completely convinced me.”
“We’ll soon be launching a new design service for museums, botanical gardens and cultural centres. The idea is to create collections that reflect each organisation’s story and unique location. If this proves successful, I’d love to expand the service to other businesses and sectors. Translating strong brand stories into Nature Pop — that’s the big goal for the future.”
Thank you for your time and enthusiasm, Claire — and best of luck with everything!
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