Recently, I had the opportunity to revisit a technique I learned over twenty years ago, when I was still in high school. At that time, I fell in love with linotype printing; I truly loved everything made by hand. I used my bicycle to transport all kinds of materials.
We talked about linotype, a craft method that combines typography and hand-printing. While I’d been fascinated at the time, I’d largely abandoned it over the years. However, a new spark of inspiration came when, in an advanced ceramics class [Konectarts.com], we made some stamps that immediately transported me back to those days when linotype and hand-printing were the center of my creativity.
I decided it was the perfect time to dive back into this technique and apply my knowledge to something completely new: creating bicycle posters. Bicycles, for me, are more than just a means of transportation; they’re a way of life, a manifestation of freedom, movement, and art. At home, we’ve always had a deep admiration for this wonderful invention, and we wanted to pay tribute to its beauty and functionality through our designs.
At first, the idea of recreating the linotype technique seemed so clear to me that I thought I could do it from memory without much difficulty. But I soon realized that memory isn’t always the best guide when it comes to something so technical. I made a few mistakes, especially when transferring the designs, which made me realize the process wasn’t going to be as simple as I had imagined.
What I initially considered a drawback soon became a valuable lesson. After researching, testing different materials, and making adjustments, I understood that mistakes are an essential part of the creative process. Instead of getting frustrated, I began to see each failure as an opportunity to learn and improve. I realized that mistakes aren’t something to be avoided, but something to be embraced, as they are the key to innovation and evolution in any artistic discipline.
This process reminded me of the importance of experimentation in design. Instead of getting caught up in the idea of achieving perfection from the start, we must allow ourselves to explore, make mistakes, and move forward. In every failed test, every adjustment, every attempt to find a solution to a problem, we find new ideas, new ways of creating, and discover details we would never have considered if everything had gone according to plan.
One of the things I love most about working with linotype is its ability to bring a design to life with unique texture and character. Each print has its own touch, its own story to tell, and it’s this imperfect beauty that makes the handcrafted work so special. And by integrating my love of bicycles into this project, I’ve discovered a new way to express myself and pay homage to this artifact that has woven so many stories over the years.
Today, more than ever, we are surrounded by technology and automated processes that can do things faster and more precisely. But something is lost in that process: the soul of manual labor, the connection we establish with what we are creating. Each poster we design is a piece of our own story, a reflection of our passion for craftsmanship and, of course, for bicycles.
The process of creating art, especially when it involves techniques as ancient as linotype, requires patience, perseverance, and a willingness to learn from our mistakes. But it is precisely in this quest for improvement, in this constant back and forth of testing and adjustments, that we find true art. The bicycle, like every great invention, is the perfect combination of functionality and aesthetics, and it is this balance we strive to capture in each of our designs.
So, to all those exploring their creativity, whether through linotype, ceramics, or any other technique, I encourage you not to fear mistakes. Instead, see every failure as an opportunity to grow, experiment, and ultimately create something unique and authentic. Because in the end, the best design products emerge when we allow ourselves to make mistakes, learn, and, above all, enjoy the process.
We’re about to begin a new phase with these posters, and each step, each test, brings us closer to our vision of capturing the essence of bicycles in an artistic form that celebrates this wonderful invention. The journey has been as exciting as the final destination, and I can’t wait to share the final result with you.
Let’s keep creating, testing, and, above all, learning. Because every mistake is just another step on the path to something truly meaningful.
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