Experimental business cards made in collaboration with
Oficina Tipográfica São Paulo (OTSP) & Letterpress Brasil 

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The idea was to make unique, experimental business cards: loose calligraphy with no previous planning, two huge sheets of thick cotton paper, a vector logotype, and letterpress printing. The outcome was uncertain, but we’d sure have fun trying!

We wanted each card to be singular, so whomever received the business card would have a small piece of artwork in their hands—like a part of one big puzzle.

The letterforms became a sort of background pattern to the paper that was to be cut in 9x5 cm pieces and then letterpress printed individually using a metal plate with the logotype vector artwork. 

With his expertise, precision and passion, Marcos Mello made the business cards come alive through the letterpress printing process. It was a joy to see him doing what he loves so flawlessly. 

The cutting process unveiled some really interesting compositions and put some form-counterform relationships in a new perspective, surprising us all with the beauty each of these pieces had in their own. 

Amidst the process, we were feeling adventurous and decided to print sometimes on the blank side and other times on the written one—yielding some surprising interactions between printed and written shapes and colors. 

The finishing touch was the beautiful gold edge painting to highlight and value the boldness of the thick cotton 600 g/m² watercolor paper.