Design is the arrangement of visual elements in space. Handmade ceramics design is no exception. Except that you get mud on your hands (and on the floor and the rest of the studio). But are there any other differences?
For my mug project I thought it would be fun to put it to the test. Do theory and practice match? In this blog I will gladly take you into my ceramics design process. In other words: from mud to mug.
Design purpose
The goals of design are versatile. My first goal was functionality, from a mug you should be able to drink. Function determines (for an important part) form. Cups, bowls, plates and the like are therefore called functional ceramics. Robin Hopper, called it “pots with purpose”. I think that is a nice term for it.
My second goal is emotive, what will be the feel of the mug . Earthy, cheerful, robust or elegant? In ceramics design, the process and the choice of materials have a significant influence on the experience of ceramics. So I’ll wait for that decision when choosing the clay body and continue with the next step.
Design space
The space in which the object will be located is called design space. Flat or three dimensional (or a combination)? In my ceramics design project “mug” it is obviously three dimensional.
Next question; with what material are we going to fill this space? In this case, that is of course clay, since it is “ceramics design”. But we are not there yet. Material choice is important for both design and functionality.
I usually work with stoneware clay, for aesthetic reasons, but also practical. Stoneware clay is suitable for both dishwasher and microwave, provided that the ware is fired at the appropriate temperature (and suitable glazes are used).
But the chosen clay also influences the emotion of the design. For that reason I used four kinds of clay, two (dark) red-and two white-based clay-bodies. In addition, I used coarse and finer clay.
Design process
The design process can go entirely according to plan (e.g. with a 3d printer), or by acting and responding. Because I work by hand with clay on the wheel and not with cast clay in a mold, I must always act and respond. I have to respond to the clay, the wheel (centrifugal force) and gravity.
That doesn’t mean I work without a plan. My intention was a convex mug with eight facets. This gives round shapes, different planes and lines. Because I worked with four different types of clay, I also had to respond differently to the clay.
The coarse clay throws and cuts differently than the finer clay. Because of these differences I also got different visual elements. The surfaces and lines (by the cutting) had a different character.
After the biscuit firing, I finished the mugs with (different) glazes. I made these choices partly based on the different colors of the clay (red and white). I also took into account the appearance of the clay (coarse or just fine). In short, again acting and responding to accentuate the qualities of these clay bodies.
Design review
Handmade ceramics design is in my opinion a merger of intentions and acting/responding in collaboration with the material. That’s what makes the design process so interesting for me. The result is according to plan, but the details and the final result are not fixed beforehand.
How did my from mud to mug project end? I am very satisfied with it. But don’t believe me on my word, view the four different mugs in my webshop and decide for yourself:
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I love this article, : very clear step-by-step design process. Yet, Daniel, following my own (short) experience, I discovered that bellied mugs are not that easy to drink from due to the narrower rim and accumulated liquid in the tilted belly, if you see what I mean. That design stage seems to not have gathered much importance in your process.
Warm regards,
Thank you Vadimir,
Yes the design proces has many subtleties. I didn’t get into all of them, but you get the gist…
About the belly, that’s a good point to think about. I don’t mind a small belly in my cups, and I like the feeling that the shape is bursting outwards, gives it a lively look. But you are right practical things should also be a concern. A design proces is never finished 🙂
Also warm regards,
Daniel