platemade

Platemade is a term that does not have a single, formal definition and can take on different meanings depending on context. In printmaking and graphic design, platemaking refers to the creation of printing plates that carry an image, which may involve metal, polymer, or other substrates. Works described as platemade are often understood to be produced with the plate as a central, authoritative element in the creative process, with the plate’s surface, texture, and inscription contributing significantly to the final image. In contemporary practice, digital workflows are commonly used to prepare plates (digital-to-plate), but the plate itself remains the decisive object used to translate the design into a print.

In manufacturing and product design, platemade can describe items produced through plate-based processes such as stamping, pressing, or electroforming, where plates function as tooling or forming elements. In this sense, the term highlights the plate’s materiality and its role in shaping form or structuring production.

Usage and interpretation of platemade are uneven and largely rhetorical, reflecting discourse in art, design, and industry rather than a standardized technical category. The term may appear in artist statements, gallery literature, supplier descriptions, or online discussions to draw attention to the plate as a foundational source material or tool. When encountered, its precise meaning typically depends on the surrounding context and the discipline in which it is used.