The Design Emporium press is a lil print shop run by Sarah Lawrence in Atlanta, Georgia.
We make stuff but also encourage you to come make stuff with us.
Can I print something with you?
Design Emporium Press is an Atlanta-based risograph studio making prints with punch. We specialize in zines, posters, cards, and weird experiments—whatever gets ink on paper in an unexpected way.
Founded by designer and illustrator Sarah Lawrence, the studio is a mix of sharp design, analog charm, and a little creative mischief. We work with artists, nonprofits, and community groups to turn ideas into bold, tactile prints that feel as good as they look.
If you need a stack of flyers with personality, a zine that actually gets read, or something completely offbeat, we’re in.
Let’s make something cool. Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch.
Ok but I’ve never heard of Riso, what is it
A risograph printer is basically a photocopier that works like a screenprinter. This eco-friendly technique uses soy-based inks and layered stencils to create vibrant, textured prints that often feel delightfully handmade.
Known for its unique imperfections, like slight misalignments and quirky ink textures, each print has its own charm. Originally designed for churches and office use in the 1980s, the Riso machine has since become a favorite among artists and designers for zines, posters, and creative projects. Plus, it’s super sustainable—using minimal energy and producing very little waste!
It’s less like a printer and more like a photocopier with unique colors.
Each color is printed separately – so if you have a 3-color piece of artwork, we need to run the same paper through the machine 3 times.
Specs:
Max paper size: 11x17”
Max image size: 11x16” (can’t do full bleed on large paper, but we can on smaller)
Paper weight range: 13lb bond to 110lb index (46 gsm to 210 gsm)
Scan resolution: 300 x 600 dpi
“Risography is a stencil-based printmaking method that uses plant-based ink derived from rice bran and stencils made from natural fibers, including banana leaves.
While the Risograph is often described as the combo of silkscreen and Xerox machines, its unique and vibrant colors set it apart from other printing methods.”
– Amanda Chung, SVA
Here are the colors we have:
Medium Blue:
#3356A4
Fluorescent Pink:
#FF48B0
Sunflower:
#FFB511
Emerald:
#19975D
Black:
#000000
Maybe you want to order a swatch kit?
Lil riso swatch kit made just for you: includes all 5 of our colors, printed on 3 different paper colors (blue/white/green). Riso colors and prints vary from print to print and color to color, but this will help you plan out your design with us.
We’ll knock the $5 off your next print job with us. Thank you!
Any tips for printing?
If you want to print a comic or a zine, you’ll need to make your layout in a multiple of 4. Each piece of paper, folded in half, will create a “signature” of 4 pages. The front cover will be page 1, the back cover will be page 4, and the main content will be pages 2 and 3.
High contrast is best! You can use photos, but they may come out with muddy detail and be hard to see. You’ll need to submit your artwork in one color at a time, with clear blacks and whites in your drawing.