Turning Parasites Into Gifts

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine came to us with an unusual request; to print and package 1000 ‘Make a Bed Bug’ Kits. The kits contain the pop out cardboard model bug, pipe cleaners and instructions all packaged in a simple but functional polythene hanging bag – we managed the whole production process.

Aquatint had already produced the very popular ‘Make a Mozzie’ Kits (aimed at school children) available via the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s online gift shop. We are getting used to making innovative insect models!

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a world-class research university with staff, students and alumni working in over 150 countries. Its mission is to improve public health across the globe by research and by educating people in major health topics. The online gift shop is accessible to all, and particularly popular with students and visitors.
The Bed Bug Kits were produced as part of a collaboration between the School’s Public Engagement Coordinator Vickie Bazalgette, Cheryl Whitehorn, a medical entomologist
and Designer and educator Andrew Forkes we worked closely with Andrew and undertook several design trials to achieve the desired result for the printed product. Each model required accurate and precise cutting and creasing to ensure the client’s designs would work.

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine was really pleased with the Bed Bug Kits, and they will be sold alongside the Mozzie Kits in the gift shop to encourage people to learn more about ectoparasites and their behaviour.
The Aquatint team relished the chance to flex their printing expertise and techniques to produce the Bed Bug and Mozzie Kits.

Do you have an unusual print request that we can help you with?