Gaining a deep understanding of digital graphic design often involves revisiting the craft’s roots. Working with letterpress has provided me with a deeper understanding of concepts such as kerning, spacing, and composition through a hands-on, tactile approach. These experiments have allowed me to view graphic design from a new perspective, offering insights that are difficult to achieve digitally. Letterpress demands time and patience, as even simple compositions can take several days to complete. The process is meditative, offering a deeper connection to the design elements and an appreciation for the precision required.
During an introductory letterpress workshop, I completed two distinct projects. The first was crafting my own business cards. I combined modern and traditional techniques by printing the main design with an inkjet printer and using letterpress stamps to emboss “invisible” text on one side. By applying extra pressure without ink, the text becomes subtly visible on both sides of the card. However, this technique comes with limitations, as too much pressure risks damaging both the paper and the lead stamps, requiring a delicate balance for the perfect result. It was also challenging to align the ink-jet composition with the blind stamping, since there is no precise way to center it and it becomes a matter of trial and error.
Back of the card
Front of the card
I designed these business cards to reflect my essence as a designer in a fun and engaging way. Along with my logo and website, I incorporated the words "meaning-maker," "visual designer," and "creative ideator" through the blind press technique to add an intriguing, tactile element. These words capture how I define myself professionally, and the subtle embossing makes the design more dynamic and memorable without overwhelming it visually.
Back of the business card
For the second project, I constructed an A4 layout for a poster solely using letterpress stamps. With guidance from the workshop master, I formulated a custom mint-colored ink and applied it to the selected green paper to create the final print.
Letterpress setup
Details of the print
Final outcome of the poster