Sarah Edmands Martin
DESIGNERAssociate Professor
University of Notre Dame
Sarah Edmands Martin
DESIGNERAssociate Professor
University of Notre Dame
Work
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Delft-ish
Ceramics, illustration, tile design2021
Concept
Making daily delft-ish ceramic tiles, I memorialize moments (sometimes personal, sometimes communal) of each day while also freeing my eye and hand to explore style, design, and art history with abandon. The blue glaze, the post-kiln sheen, the modernist square come together to create a harmony in the day-to-day. The project began in conjunction with my BFA students’ #100iubfa project and was posted to a unique instagram account @sedmandss100day.
DAY 79 / EAMES
A reference to the iconic Eames Lounge Chair, while also quoting Charles Eames’ maxim: “The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host.” The hand-lettered phrase “A good host” reinforces the idea that great design, like great hosting, anticipates comfort, ease, and human need. It would be another year and a half before I was able to secure my own Eames chair.
DAY 70 / OXFORD BROGUES
A quick visual reflection on the lost art of bespoke menswear: everything from pinstriped three piece suits to pocket scarves to a multicolored oxford brogue.
DAY 66 / CROW
This is the tile that was featured on Under Consideration, Llc.’s series called “Friday Passions to Celebrate.”
DAY 57 / INSPECTION
The date 04/05/21 was the inspection date for the first house I would purchase. The house was a historic bed & breakfast and, among other things, had an attached greenhouse. I would only live in this house for about a year, before accepting an offer at my alma mater, the University of Notre Dame.
DAY 53 / POKE
The date 03/27/21, featured in this tile. is the day that I both illustrated this tile and is the day my partner at the time poked his finger into the glaze when it was still wet. I decided to keep the imperfection.
DAY 45 / GINKO
This tile features a minimalist depiction of a ginkgo leaf, rendered in the classic cobalt blue palette characteristic of Delftware, yet diverging from traditional figurative or narrative scenes in favor of botanical abstraction. The ginkgo often symbolizes endurance and longevity.
DAY 40 / PARTY HORSE
A silly homage to my childhood best friend’s commitment to naming her wifi router after a vintage plastic horse lamp she used to own.
DAY 37 / REPETITION OF FORMS
Not everyday was a reflection on history or on contemporary observation. Sometimes, my daily delft tile became an opportunity to play with materials; to be less precious and more intuitive; to explore, in my illustrations, simple repetitions of form.
DAY 29 / VANITAS
Explicitly referencing the historical tradition of Dutch Vanitas paintings, the skull in this tile symbolically contemplates mortality and the fleeting nature of life. Balanced by organic, vine-like ornamentation, the skull and vines recall an interconnectedness of life, death, and rebirth.
DAY 25 / CANAL HOUSE
This tile references traditional Dutch canal house architecture, celebrated for its iconic narrow facades, prominent windows, and distinctive stepped or bell-shaped gables. The illustration accentuates architectural features such as brick textures, grid-patterned windows, and entryway portals. The deliberate yet playful handling of perspective underscores the charm and irregularity characteristic of Amsterdam's historic streetscapes.
DAY 19 / A DELFT OLYMPIA
This tile illustration references classical traditions of reclining female nudes prevalent in Western art history, reminiscent of iconic paintings such as Titian’s Venus of Urbino or Manet’s Olympia. Abstracted by the characteristic Delft blue-on-white style, the tile captures both the elegance and the provocative nature of these historical subjects. An ornate sofa subtly evokes the visual language of Romanticism and Neoclassicism, while the minimalist circular emblem positioned above suggests a window to a world to which we don’t have access.
DAY 15 / CLASSIC DELFT
Based on the traditional aesthetic of Delftware pottery, which is a craft that originated in the Dutch city of Delft during the 17th century, this tile showcases a classic Dutch figure (a milkmaid amidst the tulips) set amidst stylized floral motifs. Characterized by its iconic cobalt blue glaze on a stark white background, the tile echoes the Delftware practice of celebrating everyday scenes and folk traditions. The corner embellishments provide balanced symmetry, reinforcing Delft's hallmark approach of combining decorative framing with central figurative subjects, thus preserving the narrative charm and artisanal elegance that historically defined Dutch ceramic craftsmanship.
DAY 7 / G IS FOR GOAT
This day’s delft tile is inspired by the letter “G,” in both serif and sans serif type setting. The letter G is the 7th letter of the alphabet, and is also the first letter of this fanciful goat.
DAY 5 / SAN JUNIPERO
Based on the fourth episode, ”San Junipero,” in the science fiction anthology TV series, Black Mirror. In some ways a modern day fairytale, this episode raises philosophical questions about the nature of consciousness and experience and the consequences of digitally simulated existence.
The soundtrack for this episode, created by Clint Mansell, also evokes nostalgia for the 1980s (the era in which I was born).
An Intentional Habit
Inspired, in part, by Michael Bierut’s “100 Day Project," this daily practice is an intentional exploration of disciplined creativity and iterative practice. By engaging daily with the same basic visual constraints, a designer’s repeated, incremental efforts foster a deeper understanding of design fundamentals, unlocking unexpected possibilities through persistent experimentation. This structured daily habit underscores design not merely as spontaneous inspiration, but as a deliberate, reflective process, one that affirms how sustained repetition and careful observation are essential in transforming routine practice into meaningful mastery.
Micahel Bierut
February 10, 2011