Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Hawley.
Hi Kyle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My first formal training was in theatre at The Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. This set me on course to be a lifelong storyteller that was comfortable in many mediums. I went on to study both journalism and theatre at Texas State. Austin was my first home after college. It was a place that I could work in film, theatre and in online mediums. After working in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, I decided to deepen my focus on art direction. The next step was The Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. That experience was a huge step toward understanding how to truly realize a concept and bring it to the marketplace. How to make a living doing something I truly loved.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve never driven, ridden or walked a path that didn’t have a turn or a bump along the way. Freelancing is always scary, but it teaches a person so many things. Trusting in one’s creative self is an act of bravery. It takes time to trust in oneself and defend that vision in the most productive ways.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Letterpress PLAY is a design and letterpress studio that creates paper toys, stationery, and fabric goods with an emphasis on play at any age. Our mission is to foster sustainability and community through play.
We are a team of designers, letterpress printers, block printers, retail, and online creatives. Our work also involves small-batch natural dyes. For our large batch dyeing, sewing and bookbinding we work with a truly talented team of artists, many of which live in the Austin area.
Because I have lived in Austin at many points in my life, it is a community that is near and dear to my heart. LetterpressPLAY is my gift to this community and my goal is to provide both programming, living wages, and my joy of design.
I’m very proud of the community outreach we have managed to provide despite being a young company during a pandemic.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
People will always love printed and written expressions. It’s important to remember that heritage mediums are rarely lost and can often shine when paired with newer expressions. Folks didn’t set down the book to pick up the iPad forever or abandoned the written card for only a digital greeting. People only expanded their mediums for expression. This is a good thing. Juxtaposing mediums allows for the special attributes of each to shine.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.letterpressplay.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letterpressplay/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letterpressplay
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LetterpressPlay
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/letterpress-play-austin
Image Credits
Carolyn Fong; Atley Brown
