Are handcrafted cement tiles overrated?
"Art is a creative act in which a person exercises a craft while expressing self—practicing or appreciating art is vital to being human."
On a chilly January morning, contemplating whether art is an overrated commodity brings us back to what makes cement tiles exclusive. In five years of watching Lioness Tile grow, working closely with the design and craft community has revealed one clear theme: the pricelessness of transforming an incredible design idea into living reality.
A Chilly January Morning and the Intrinsic Value of Art
The feeling of joy a designer has when seeing their concept on a handcrafted cement tile, or hearing from proud homeowners living with bespoke patterned floors, or seeing a chef admire a tile kitchen backsplash—these are moments beyond words. Crafting art on cement tile requires absolute diligence in ingredients, mixing ratios, and artisan skill.
The bespoke brass metal mold design requires continuous upkeep, and the manual pouring of colored pigment concrete mix demands both patience and passion. To explore the broader creative question, we held a tile-making workshop with Ted Burdett, an experienced industrial designer and design educator from the University of Illinois (UIC).
Insights from Ted Burdett and the UIC Design Collaboration
Ted defines art as a creative act where a craft reflects rigorous practice and personal self-expression. Observing the process firsthand, he noted how technical mastery produces tiles where each piece subtly reflects its maker. While cement tiles trace historic roots to Moroccan techniques, the UIC team was struck by how deeply Indian heritage and Jaipur's architectural vibrancy are reflected in the colors and patterns.
"The stencils and tiles reflect the hand and technical mastery of the maker, proving that the value of art is intrinsic in skills and community engagement."
Curiosity inspired the UIC students to translate digital concepts into tangible tiles, experiencing pride and wonder upon seeing the finished pieces. Even more profound was learning the personal journeys of the artisans. When asked about the impact on our workshop community, the artisans' smiles spoke louder than words—feeling appreciated globally motivates them to reach new creative heights.
Far from being overrated or merely commercial, handcrafted cement tiles represent an authentic fusion of heritage, design dialogue, and local community empowerment. Their true worth resides in the technical know-how and human connections woven into every finished piece.
"The value of art isn’t just commercial—it is intrinsic in terms of skills, knowledge of know-how, and local community engagement."
