Since 1904: House of the Golden Fleece

Created to commemorate over a century of craftsmanship, and photographed on site at the original factory in Ruleville, Mississippi, Since 1904: House of the Golden Fleece was conceived as both a historical archive and a brand object. It was a publication designed to honor the legacy of Isaac Spiewak & Sons through materiality, storytelling, and production detail.


Experimental Print Techniques

A major focus of the project was the cover treatment. The intention was to create a graphic that appeared almost invisible in low light, then revealed itself through reflection and movement. After extensive experimentation with gloss coatings, clear foils, and texture applications, the final solution used a custom-tinted spot varnish mixed with metallic PMS ink over a silk-coated surface.

A Rich History

The design system balanced restraint and utility with tactile refinement. A compact square format referenced archival field manuals and military issue books, while a minimal typographic palette allowed imagery and historical artifacts to carry emotional weight.

Complete Immersion

This understated approach mirrored the identity of the brand itself: durable, historic, and deeply rooted in craftsmanship rather than trend. Every production detail was designed to reinforce that philosophy, from the heavy paper stock and soft tactile finishes to the precision of the binding and printing techniques.

The final publication functioned simultaneously as a commemorative object, historical document, and brand statement. It transformed over 100 years of company history into an immersive editorial experience.

The design was featured in the popular blog highlighting excellence in printing, UnderConsideration’s FPO.

Read more about it here.

Michelle LeClerc

Michelle strives to add context and meaning to the exponentially growing world of design. Recently served as the Creative Director at Beutler Ink, a strategic creative agency specializing in research, writing, and design. Michelle has developed design and data visualization for social justice organizations like Campaign Zero, Be a Hero, and Yale’s The Justice Collaboratory and Freedom Reads. In 2017, she created the data visualization for Elizabeth Warren’s book, This Fight is Our Fight, a #1 New York Times bestseller. In 2019, on behalf of Campaign Zero, she led the data visualization for the first police scorecard in the US, which sought to identify urgent issues surrounding police accountability and propose best-practice solutions. Michelle’s commitment to quality design extends from the office to the classroom—she teaches Infographic Design at Temple’s Tyler School of Art.

www.michelleleclerc.com
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