# Print-Marked Porcelain Tableware 'The Human Trace' Focuses on the Manpower Inherent in Production By Joey Haar | Published 2017-03-29 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-human-trace References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2017/03/29/human-trace-tableware-people-from-porcelain-factory-designmarch-2017-iceland/) Though industrial production separates itself from traditional craftsmanship precisely because of its distant from human labor, 'The Human Trace' is a design project that accentuates just how reliant even industrial processes are on human involvement. The project uses a chemical reaction to create deep blue splotches on what would otherwise be [pure white porcelain](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saori-matsushita), with the splotches corresponding to the precise places where workers touched the [industrially produced tableware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/freshservice-fresh-drink-service). To create the oceanic markings on the porcelain in The Human Trace, ceramist Arkadiusz Szwed and curator Ewa Klekot had the factory workers wear gloves with fingertips dipped in [cobalt blue salts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/matter-collection). While handling the tableware, these salts were virtually invisible, but once the porcelain was fired the blues were revealed. The final result is a set of tableware that connects the users more intimately to the production process. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.7/10 - Popularity: 33% | Activity: 39% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Human-centered Production:** The Human Trace project demonstrates the value of incorporating human touch and labor into industrial production processes. - **Craftsmanship in Manufacturing:** The use of chemical reactions to create unique markings on tableware highlights the fusion of traditional craftsmanship with industrial production. - **Enhanced User Connection:** Creating tableware that reveals the human touch involved in production fosters a deeper connection between users and the products they use. ### Where This Applies - **Manufacturing:** The use of chemical reactions in tableware manufacturing presents an opportunity to incorporate craftsmanship and human involvement into industrial processes. - **Design:** The Human Trace project exemplifies the potential for designers to create products that highlight the human element and enhance user experiences. - **Consumer Goods:** Incorporating visible markings that reflect human labor in tableware manufacturing can differentiate products in the consumer goods industry and appeal to conscious consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Algorithmic Ceramic Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/texture-ware.md) - [Porcelain Dinnerware Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monte-porcelain.md) - [Elegant Porcelain Tableware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/porcelain-tableware.md) - [Innovative Ceramic Tableware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ceramic-tableware1.md) - [Machine-Made Tableware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gcode-flatware.md) - [Collaborative Tea Towel Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tea-towel-design.md) - [Modular Porcelain Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/corcelain.md) - [Sculptural Ceramic Tableware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/office-of-tangible-spaces.md) - [AI-Fueled Sustainable Product Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/products-of-place-1.md)