A bespoke tile design for Mallorcan artisans Huguet.
Image: Design sketch, Amy Croft for Huguet
PROJECT —
bespoke tile design
Year —
2022
CLIENT —
Huguet
ROLE —
Designer
Creative Direction
Huguet, the Mallorcan artisan producer of hydraulic tiles, cement, and terrazzo, approached me with a brief to create a distinctive set of tile designs.
The pattern of 'Untitled after Frank and Lillian Gilbreth' draws inspiration from the cyclegraphs developed by management consultants Frank and Lillian Gilbreth in the early 20th century. This photographic technique was designed to measure and improve workplace productivity by mapping movement.
In homage to the hand-crafted nature of the production process, the initial tile pattern was drawn by hand. A pin-prick stencil technique was then used to replicate and test the design’s repetition.
Frank and Lillian Gilbreth's use of light to trace movement is reimagined in this design as the trace of everyday pathways in a domestic kitchen. Vivid colored circles evoke a sense of play, referencing childhood games like ‘The Floor is Lava’ and offering a playful, yet structured foundation.
Image: Courtesy of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
All images: Coutesy of Amy Croft & Huguet, (Photographer Nick Clark)
Image: Design sketch, Amy Croft for Huguet
Image: Each tile is handmade in Mallorca (Photographer: Amy Croft)
