Presenter: Amanda Kibbel
Mentor: Jessica Swanson, AAA Ceramics
Creative Work Presentation: C2 (Gumwood Room)
Major: Product Design
This ceramic exploration started with the parameters of tableware and developed from one of three unique form tests. The intention for the final set was to create tableware whose form and glaze was unobtrusive in the kitchen and could be used for most dining experiences. The work was inspired by Dieter Rams’s “10 Principles of ‘Good Design’” and an urge to create minimalistic pieces that did not lose their ability to relate to the user because of an unapproachable aesthetic. Each piece was created using of an electric potter’s wheel, with the handles of the pitchers and lidded
forms shaped by hand. The resulting product was a thick layer of white matte glaze to add to the roundness of each object along with rounded approachable forms and thin bare-clay handles that were sanded down to be soft to the touch. Possible future improvements include: a redesign of handles to be wider for more surface area between hand and handle; a taller foot on each piece of the set to give it a “floating” appearance to add to its harmony in the living space; and making the bowls and cups easier to stack on top of each other. The future of design lies in designing products that work in conjunction with our lives and stepping away from products that consume our attention.