Jason Santa Maria is a well-known name in web design circles. Between speaking at conferences (I recently saw his panel at SXSW 2007), Jason is also the Creative Director at Happy Cog Studios and has an impressive award-winning resume. However, what really caught my eye was his experience with redesigning his business cards. Jason chronicled his rewarding experience by printing up business cards on the letterpress at the University of Arts in Philadelphia. By fitting eight cards to a page, and using large woodblock type, Jason was able to make each card unique. He used polymer plates for his logo and contact info as well. Pretty cool stuff.

I took a letterpress course here at The San Francisco Center for the Book, and now I want to complete all the courses. As a digital designer, there is something raw about setting type, choosing paper and pressing your first print. I got so inspired by that course I bought an Excelsior letterpress, acquired a ton of type (or at least it feels like a ton when I move it) and have finally received new rollers for it. My grandfather is a printer, and gave me wood logotypes he carved himself for print jobs back in the 50s and 60s. Every once in awhile, the printing company he used to work at calls him up to fire up the Linotype (probably one of the last working linotypes in Wisconsin, period).

Getting your hands inked will be one the most rewarding experiences a designer will have. Show us your project!