An ode to the tangible

Things, be they books, furniture or everyday objects, serve as anchors in our lives. They are not merely functional, they are fixed points of reference, offering stillness, calm, and continuity. The solidity of a well-worn chair, the permanence of a printed photograph or a beautiful tactile book or leaflet carries a certain weight, grounding us in the moment. These objects mark time, creating lasting forms that link past, present, and future.

In the digital age, the tangible is slipping away. We are surrounded by non-things: streams of data, digital images, cloud-based archives and fleeting social media interactions. Unlike the things that persist, these non-things are transient, constantly updated and in constant motion until they get deleted or forgotten about.

The tangible world—solid, concrete, enduring—is being overtaken by the digital. This shift has consequences: the weakening of the physical world as a source of stability and connection. What do we lose when our lives are defined by non-things?

The tangible offers lasting form. It allows us to create something meaningful, something that endures.

An invitation to create more tangible things

As we enter a new year, I want to focus on creating more tangible things again—objects, books, printed materials, or anything that takes on a lasting, physical form. In a world increasingly defined by the fleeting and the virtual, the superficial and super quick, I believe there is immense value in grounding ourselves in what we can see, touch, hold and hold on to.

Small shifts are taking place — there is a gentle resurgence in those of us seeking a return to physical, tactile experiences. These material forms hold lasting connections that outlive the transience of the digital, and many of us are valuing this tangibility in what we are drawn to both as makers and receivers of these works.

If you feel inspired to create something tangible, or have a project you would like to collaborate on, please get in touch. Whether it’s an idea for something printed, an object, or something entirely different, I would love to explore how together we might create considered and tangible things that last.