From February 9 to 11, Print Club Torino hosted students after a series of in-person and online meetings. During these three days of workshops, we created the fanzine Ucca l’Amma (“the mouth of the soul”), a reflection on food and the values it carries.
The creative process in design is a delicate balance between theory and practice, a continuous dialogue between abstract concepts and tangible experience developed in the workshop. Creativity is not limited to pure imagination but merges with the practical application of ideas, bringing concrete solutions to life. This approach integrates theoretical thinking with hands-on work, creating a synergy that enriches the entire design process.
Hands-on Experience in the Workshop: The Heart of Creative Design
Design is not limited to aesthetic research but is rooted in a deep understanding of human behavior, practical needs, and the emotions that an object or space can evoke. In this context, theory serves as a starting point for defining design guidelines while also providing a framework for critically evaluating proposed solutions.
The Fusion of Theory and Practice: A Creative Cycle
After developing ideas on a theoretical level, hands-on experience in the workshop becomes essential for testing the concepts. The practical phase is not merely an act of execution but a process of exploration and experimentation. Working manually allows students to physically test their ideas, assess stylistic and functional choices and confront challenges that may only emerge during the making process. Interacting with materials, understanding their behavior and exploring their adaptability creates a continuous learning environment. Every prototype built, every mistake made and every adjustment applied during hands-on work represents a moment of growth that enriches the design vision. The workshop is not separate from theory—it is where theory takes shape, transforms and adapts to real-world needs.
The brief
Food is one of the most powerful means of promoting intercultural exchange. It serves as the first point of contact between civilizations, social groups, or individuals; it builds trust between those who prepare a meal and those who consume it; it creates moments of exchange and sharing. Most importantly, food preserves the memory of an individual or an entire people. In essence, through food, we express our cultural identity.
For our independent publishing projects, we have chosen Risograph printing, an affordable and environmentally friendly technique that uses soy-based, non-toxic inks and banana fiber stencils. This innovative digital duplicator is still widely used by designers and creatives today for its unique characteristics. The Risograph printer combines the color vibrancy of screen printing, the softness of offset printing and the speed of photocopiers. Additionally, it brings an element of uniqueness: during the layering of colors, slight misalignments and print variations may occur, making each copy one of a kind.
From Idea to Practice
To create Ucca l’Amma, each participant chose a culinary product connected to their identity. Some revisited family recipes, others evoked childhood memories—such as grape harvesting or olive picking—while others focused on traditional dishes from their place of origin. After multiple layout prototypes, color studies and print tests on Fedrigoni Arena Rough Ivory 100 g/m² paper, the fanzine finally took shape—an exploration of emotions, personal history and the places we come from. Participants: Benedetta Amantia, Carla Carbonaro, Ilaria Carpanzano, Carla Dinolfo, Giulia Monciino, Gaetano Puglisi, Matteo Salvati, Giulia Sinagra, Maria Grazia Spataro, Paola Spitaleri, Giorgia Licciardello, Maria João Dias, and Raquel Ribeiro.
