Lessons in Pottery

Early works that shaped my understanding of design, and considerations I carry with me

Having time to explore beyond my major in college, I decided to take up pottery. Below are three works from that first semester (2018) which sparked my interest in design and continue to guide my thoughts around engineering and manufacturing. 

My first coil pot. Can you tell?

Obscuring a process

This was my very first ceramic piece, and remains one of my favorites. It's a satisfying feeling when someone is surprised to hear this 1ft tall, thin-walled pot was made from hand-rolled coils. When I look at fabricated objects now, I find myself thinking about the scars of a process and efforts made to disguise them.

Playing with sets associated forms

Using form to indicate belonging

For this pitcher and cup set, I tried to relate each form as the inverse of one another. Thinking beyond color, I enjoy examining parts of assemblies and product families for aesthetic threads to unify the system. 

A gratifying lid

Knowing the material

This fit was the product of thoughtful measurement, consideration of the moisture level of each piece, approximating shrinkage, and a little luck. Facing similar challenges now, I appreciate the quantitative nature of material properties and conditions that can eliminate much of this guesswork.