Swiss graphic designer and letterpress printmaker Dafi Kühne is interested in ‘bridging the gap between digital, contemporary graphic design, and print production’, through his striking letterpress-printed posters and projects. Based in Näfels in the Swiss Alps, Kühne works from his studio and workshop ‘babyinktwice’, which he set up more than fifteen years ago. It is here that he houses his collection of around 40 tonnes of letterpress printing equipment. Collected over the years, this equipment is key for his experiments in merging digital and analogue processes. Kühne, who studied Visual Communication at ZHdK (Zurich University of the Arts), followed by an MA in Type Design Research at the University of Reading (UK), works with a host of cultural clients, ranging from music venues to museums, via exhibitions and architects.
He says, ‘I’m interested in high-quality productions and having full control over the whole process, not just the layout.’ With a range of tools to hand, he experiments with different techniques and processes. In Kühne’s view, ‘letterpress is the most interesting technology because of the multitude of processes and materials you can use to print.’ His tools include a CNC router, laser cutter and wood chisels to hand-carve a wood block. The paper also becomes part of the design for Kühne, and he chooses the surface texture – smooth, rough, thick, or thin – to match the project. He always pushes the physical and creative boundaries of what his tools can offer, taking the restrictions of the materials as a challenge.
A mix of these processes can be seen in Kühne’s commemorative tour poster ‘Uberstan’ for Swiss punk rock band Überyou. The poster features the band’s touring locations, with eyes peeping through the type elements. The linocut letterforms were carved by hand, with additional laser-cut, computer-generated halftones for the eye portion. Kühne states: ‘The transformation of my digital designs is where I see the potential of how I can push my work to the maximum. That’s why I am interested in these analogue processes in combination with digital tools.’