Why the Neuland catalog 2015 is so incredibly great

At the beginning of our current catalog—and especially at the beginning of its illustrations—was GimmeFive . Here's how it came about: Last summer, every participant at EuViz in Berlin received a practical shoulder bag containing their conference materials, a sketchbook, and finally this peculiar loop belt that keeps the most important Neuland markers practically always at hand. Or rather, on your upper arm. Because that's where it belongs. And at that point, it starts to look a bit like a cartridge belt or—exactly!—like a superhero's belt.

GimmeFive: A small tool with a big impact

And it was precisely this association that gave rise to the idea for the 2015 Neuland catalog – our superhero edition. However, a lot of sketches went back and forth before it was clear what this superhero should actually look like. (Initially, the only certainty was that he should be drawn exclusively with Neuland markers.) Should he be able to fly like Superman? Or soar through the air on a flipchart like the Silver Surfer? Should his cape be made of felt for a pinboard or look more like our flipchart paper?

Everyone should be a superhero. But please, with a better logo.

A lot of paper and marker ink was wasted on ideas that turned out not to be as entertaining as we had imagined. Some body postures and anatomies were "totally distorted," and in comics with multiple panels, the basic structure wasn't always right: Is the story understandable? Is it funny? Is it even a story at all?

Top secret: Designs for the legendary Neuland cave.

Then there was the question of whether to use a thick or a thinner line. With a thin marker, finer details are of course possible, but on the other hand, a bold line also looks much more decisive, louder, simply: strong. (We used both. We're not that picky.)

Initial sketches for special applications: Every beginning is rough.

That's why we took extra care to ensure our superhero didn't push himself too much into the foreground. After all, the catalog isn't meant to sell him, but our products, and to make them look as super* as possible. At the same time, we wanted to convey, in the most entertaining way possible, that it's not the cape, the sleep mask, and the tights that make a superhero.
What matters is dedication and the right equipment. Because that's what makes everyone great in their own way in the real world.

The missions of our superhero (list incomplete)

Did we succeed? We certainly like the catalog. But what's really interesting is what you think. Tell us! We look forward to your praise, your suggestions, and even your criticism. Because we can only be truly great* if you help us.

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All photos and drawings : Thies Thiessen

Admittedly, the word "super" appears far too often in this text – but it fits so well. And it definitely sounds superr (ouch!) than, for example, "outstanding," "unique," or "of impressive performance." Right?