Background
Laura was born in the Midwest and then transplanted herself to northern California upon earning a design degree from the Ohio State University (and after a final, -26 degree winter). In 1993 she founded Anvil Graphic Design. After years of working night and day, growing the business and creating award-winning work, the staff began to develop creative burnout. In 1999 Laura introduced an internal gift wrap design project to stretch their creative muscles and double as a holiday gift for their clients. The gift wrap collections were well received by clients and received numerous design accolades. In 2003 Anvil Modern Paperie was launched. Today Laura works from her 100% solar powered home and studio in Palomar Park, CA.

Laura Bauer Confesses
I’m a design junkie. I just can’t help it. I wasn’t always this way. I guess I am a product of my ID degree combined with 25 years as a graphic designer in Silicon Valley. Design has taken over my life. I think of this when simple purchases become nightmarish quests because I've discovered that the item I want either does not exist or I feel the selection available (in my price range) is aesthetically offensive. My husband has the same affliction so we have a very interesting house. That’s basically how this all began. We decided to shake things up by mixing traditional Asian motifs with a twist of modernism. Our goal was to develop playful paper products that bring excitement to the tradition of giving.

Anvil Modern Paperie: Phase 2
I decided to become a mother in my forties. I soon discovered what kinds of products are produced for children. Most of which employ poor graphic design yet are designed to turn kids into insatiable little consumers. My personal designs became much more playful than my work before children. My son actually helped me design the “I like trains” pattern. The trains are his drawings that I redrew (following his art direction of course:). Plum pretty was inspired by the blossoms on my street and my baby girl. I can no longer work 60 hour weeks and have my family remain functional. However, I cannot give up my work and maintain my sanity. It began with a custom design job for SFMOMA and then Chronicle books Mix and Match Stationery followed. Since those projects I have focused myself on private label, custom design and licensed work for a constantly growing list of great companies that I find very inspiring.

A list of the design awards that convinced us to launch Anvil Modern Paperie:

Gift Wrap Awards
2002 Graphic Design: USA, American Graphic Design Award, Award of Excellence
2002 Appleton "U Be the Judge" Show, Silver Medal
2002 Print Regional Design Annual
2002 Creativity 32 Annual
2002 Gifts & Decorative Accessories Magazine
2003 HOW, International Design Annual
2003 April/May Dynamic Graphics Magazine
2003 November Graphic Design USA Magazine, cover image
2003 Western Art Directors Club, West Coast Show
2004 HOW, International Design Annual, Outstanding
2004 Promotions (hardcover book by Rockport Publishers)

The Recession Proof Gift Set Awards
2002 Graphic Design: USA, American Graphic Design Award, Award of Excellence
2002 Communication Arts, Design Annual 43
2002 Type Director's Club, Typography 24
2002 Creativity 32 Annual
2002 Step Inside Design Annual Review
2003 HOW, International Design Annual
2003 HOW, Self Promotion Competition, Merit
2003 Mohawk Award of Excellence
2003 Print Regional Design Annual
2003 Western Art Directors Club, West Coast Show Bronze Medal
2004 HOW, International Design Annual, Merit
2004 AIGA Grown in California

How To Contact Us
If you have questions, please email us at support@hitanvil.com or send us postal mail at:

Anvil Modern Paperie
65 El Vanada Rd.
Palomar Park, CA 94062
650-261-6090
support@hitanvil.com