MIJA - THE PRINTING TRIKE

MFA Project

During the first semester of my MFA studies, I designed and built Mija, a printing trike. Inspired by months of studying signage, I wanted to create a simple, interactive way for a child to print messages on a large surface. After exploring and testing larger mechanisms, I landed on the idea of using a custom printing cylinder that could imprint words onto the ground as it rolled.

To support this concept, I envisioned a modified tricycle frame as the ideal structure. A few days of searching Craigslist led me to a metal Radio Flyer trike frame for just $10. I drove to a nearby town to pick it up. As I loaded the trike into my car, the seller—a father, clearly attached to its sentimental value—asked if it was for my child. Without considering the emotional weight of his question, I replied, “No, it’s for a school project. I’m going to cut it up and redesign the frame.” His expression quickly shifted to disappointment, as if I had dashed his hope that his son’s trike would remain a cherished toy.

I chose to print the word “mija” with the trike, a term of endearment in Spanish meaning “daughter.” At first, I wanted the trike to maintain its original appearance, giving it the look of a store-bought item. However, after some thought, I decided to strip away the original Radio Flyer paint and graphics, opting instead for a fully custom design and paint job.

Once the frame was customized to fit the rear printing canister, I chose a cotton candy pink paint, applying multiple coats of primer first. To achieve the desired finish, I layered on a glitter aerosol followed by a clear gloss seal. My goal was to create a clean, custom look inspired by the classic Hispanic low-rider aesthetic, which, as Wikipedia describes, often features “expensive custom paint jobs consisting of several thin layers of different colors, metal oxide or pearl flake, clear coat, and metal leaf.” I wanted the trike’s custom-fabricated frame to visually reflect the cultural reference of “mija” that it stamps onto the ground as it’s pedaled by a child.

For the printing material, I experimented with different options. Initially, I considered cornmeal, but I wasn’t satisfied with its texture. After testing, I found sand worked better, particularly on pavement. The “mija” stencil, composed of 278 holes, was created using a handwritten-style font. I modified it by tracing and adjusting the letter heights to account for the curvature of the 6-inch PVC tube used as the printing cylinder.