A: At the heart of what we do is community - so we love working on projects that can have a positive impact on people, either to better their lives or to make something that inspires people into finding new passions that they never knew they had. It sounds lofty and a bit airy fairy - but there's a strong ethical and social conscience that runs through everything we do. Some projects that have been amazing and very rewarding have been: The Leaf Label 20 box set - printing from trees - taught me loads about wood - which has now lead on to me actually making my own wooden type. Double Dagger - a publication that looks at what letterpress printing is in the digital age - ie - what the fuck is the point of it and why would anyone be doing it when they can do it all digitally? Golden Cabinet - I started the Shipley gig collective in 2013 with 3 other people to bring live music to the town we live in that hadn't had 'a provision' (whatever that means) for live music - it's now nationally recognised & much loved (and I made a load of posters for it..!) and has raised the profile of the Kirkgate Centre (the venue) and provided it with much needed income that then supports refugees and other people in need in the local community.
Q: Do you think some people think that hand made design (like letterpress printing for example) is elitist?
A: Quite possibly. But one of the things we do is to fuck with that at every possibility - so for instance we get kids of all ages and backgrounds getting involved with printing - it provides a discussion point about history, place, time and ideas and who knows maybe it'll inspire someone along the way to get into it and do something amazing.
Q: Do you find this slower process of printing / using your hands rewarding?
A: Absolutely. It teaches us about ourselves. It's methodical. Meditative. INFURIATING. But there's nothing quite like pulling your first print - seeing the ink on paper, the subtle impression of the type and crispness of imagery that no inkjet (or risograph! haha!) can ever give you.
Q: Do you think the value of hand-made design is rising or decreasing in the digital age?
A: Rising. We keep getting told that people are sick of the digital world and need to escape it to make things with their hands. This isn't just related to print! It's time to switch off the internet and go outside and enjoy life as it is, not as some form of curated online lie! But having said that we are VERY AWARE of how much the internet has played a part in what we do. That's the brutal irony. Now we just have to find a way to learn to switch it off and carry on regardless.
Q: Some would argue letterpress printing could be reproduced digitally for cheaper and faster, what do you think to this?
A: Absolutely, but then it's merely an 'aesthetic' - and cheaper and faster in our books is not a good thing. It's soulless and tedious and partly why we're in the mess we're in right now. So letterpress to some extent is a stand against the rising tide of 'cheaper, faster...now' - because we know in our hearts that if we want to make life more fun and creative we have to slow down and stop and listen to each other and make better things that aren't driven by making money or to put it very bluntly about 'fucking people over to survive'.
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