The Final Step: Inside a printing & framing workshop with Clint Bell

Established in 1988, Emergent Designs initially built its reputation by inventing and patenting Artmount, a lightweight block-mounting system that remains a staple in display environments.

Based in Rosebery, Sydney, the company has evolved into a specialised production hub for fine artists, photographers, galleries, and commercial brands. Over the past three decades, they have assembled a team of skilled specialists focused on large-format photographic printing, mounting, and custom framing.

With a focus on archival-grade materials and efficient production workflows, Emergent Designs handles everything from high-volume trade work to museum-quality exhibition pieces.

Capture sat down with Emergent Designs owner, Clint Bell, to delve into the meticulous craft, logistics, and technical complexity of his high-end printing and framing business. Beyond the technical specs, however, we found a workspace defined by easy rapport and friendly banter – a culture where highly skilled experts form a collaborative team that feels almost like a family.

Capture Magazine: Can you give us a brief history of the business?

Emergent Designs: The original owner, Eddie, started the business 30 years ago. It began with promotional work and Big W, but then he patented a machine – a vacuum press – for mounting images to foam board. We still have that original machine. Interestingly, Aristocrat, the poker machine company, was across the road. They used to send their graphics here to be mounted to acrylic, which is how the business developed its expertise in acrylic mounting.

Capture: And when did you take over?

Emergent Designs: I took over two years ago. We retained everyone, which is crucial because there is a lot of earned experience here. Most of the staff have been here for 10 years, and about a quarter for 20 years. Many come from original photographic lab backgrounds, so they understand the transition from traditional labs to the current graphics industry.

Capture: How is the team structured?

Emergent Designs: We have about 18 staff. In terms of departments, we have print, acrylics, framing, mounting, and a dispatch team for hanging and packing. We have about six full-time framers. Interestingly, about 15% of our business is trade work for other framers in Sydney. Our van driver does a weekly run picking up artwork and dropping off Artmount or framing jobs for them. We often handle their overflow or large volume hotel jobs.

Capture: Speaking of volume, can you estimate how many images you frame a day?

Emergent Designs: It varies, but we are likely shipping between 10 to 20 finished pieces a day. It’s a real process; we can't afford to cut corners. We’ve had long-term customers like Aquabumps or Ken Duncan who rely on that consistency. If you try to rush precision work – like a previous manager I knew in the industry who tried to automate everything without care – the quality drops, and the 'comebacks' (returns) end up costing you more money.

Capture: How do you handle pricing? Is it a custom consult every time?

Emergent Designs: We don't encourage long consultations for a single frame; our business model is built on efficiency. We hold kilometres of core stock – standard blacks, whites, oaks – rather than ordering custom moulding sticks for every job like a boutique framer might. We use a robust system called NetSuite to track every job through production, from printing to mounting to packing.

Capture: What is the market looking like at the moment?

Emergent Designs: It’s tough across the board, from fine art galleries to decor photographers. However, we’ve picked up a few big new clients, so we have remained stable, which is fortunate.

Capture: Let's talk about materials. For a photographer wanting longevity, what framing materials do you offer?

Emergent Designs: For photography, dry mounting with the correct films is generally acceptable and standard.

Regarding glazing, we predominantly use acrylic as it is lighter than glass and breathes, which is better for the artwork. We use a brand with the highest clarity – continuous process acrylic – which avoids the impurities you sometimes find in cast acrylic. Standard acrylic has about 70% UV protection, but we also offer UV acrylic which hits 99% protection.

Capture: And if a client prefers glass?

Emergent Designs: We have standard glass, which is the most basic. Then there is Anti-Reflective (AR) glass, specifically AR70 (70% UV protection) and AR99 (99% UV protection), often referred to as Museum Glass. 

Capture: What about the backing boards?

Emergent Designs: We use a few different types.

1. Gatorboard: Very stiff, often used for unframed displays.
2. Kapamount: Has an aluminium film liner making it stronger and flatter, providing a super smooth surface for high-gloss prints.
3. Alupanel: A composite aluminium panel, which is our top-tier mounting board.

Capture: Do artists tend to have specific preferences?

Emergent Designs: Absolutely. Every artist has a different specification. The photo galleries usually have a standard frame they stick to. Someone like Murray Fredericks has a specific, heavier frame where the work is floated on Alupanel—it’s a level up from the standard decor gallery spec. Then you have artists like Ken Duncan who sprays every print with a protective coating for UV and scratch resistance.

Capture: I’ve noticed some artists, like Darren Sylvester, tiling their large works.

Emergent Designs: Yes, often that is a necessity. You can’t get acrylic or moulding in sizes large enough for some of those massive works, so they split the image into four panels. It’s a clever way to bypass material limitations while filling a large wall.

Capture: What are the typical types of frames on offer?

Emergent Designs: We offer four distinct framing styles:

• The Box Frame A contemporary favourite. Instead of using a mat board, the print extends all the way to the edges of the frame for a clean, modern look. Spacers are used between the print and the frame to create a nice drop shadow.

• The Matted Frame The traditional choice. This features a classic window mat board bordering the print to draw the eye toward the image.

• The Space Frame A gallery-style option. The photo is mounted on an aluminium panel that 'floats' 5mm off the backing board. Surrounded by 75mm of visible white space, this creates a 3D floating effect.

• The Reverse Frame Designed for canvas or board-mounted prints. This frame features a flush wooden border with a 5–10mm gap between the artwork and the frame edge, creating a sophisticated shadow line.

Capture: Thanks for the chat!

Emergent Designs: Thank you

Emergent Designs are located at Unit 11, 809-821 Botany Rd (enter via Dunning Ave) in Rosebery NSW.

You can find out more about Emergent Designs on their website.