Connecting with others

"Good design will always sell".

At Staffordshire university we as a class have been asked to do a Souvenir project with 'The Wedgwood Museum' situated in Barlston, Stoke-on-Trent. What can you class as a Souvenir? Small objects, larger objects? I spoke to Ray Atkins from the museum who gave me some valuable information to influence my project.

I found from my questioning that 'The Wedgwood Museum' has a peak season between April and August of the spring - summer months. Which is not surprising as its the case in most attractions throughout the UK.

 The average age range of the Museums visitors is believed to be 40+. I see this as a disadvantage for the Museum as it has much more to offer the younger generations in terms of its history. For us as Designer/Makers it may seem to some easier to have a target audience in mind when designing a product.

 I asked 'In the retail shop which of your items sell best?' According to Mr.Atkins the mugs are the best sellers, not in any particular colour or shapes. Mugs vary in size, shape, design, pattern and colour.

Below to the left is an Eric Ravilious Alphabet mug retailing online around the £10 mark. Below on the right is a very pretty mug with lots of variations on this design for sale in the Museum shop at the moment, extremely different to the Ravilious Alphabet mug but colourful floral design makes an eye catching pattern with the gold rim and added detail of the curled handle.

Most people like to spend in the region of between £10-£50 in the Museums retail shop. I believe pricing will be key in this project to set ours products in the right market.

A fellow peer agreed to answer a few questions for my blog.

My peer is quite nervous with the project being tied to such a well known ceramics company which is very understandable. She is planning on creating work inspired by Wedgwood's 'Fairyland lustre' that's based in the museums 20th century section, but keeping the work contemporary.

She feels a collection of small items seems inviting but ideas are still in process. By completing this project it will give her confidence to work with other prestigious companies should the opportunity arrive. I found from my two interviews that contemporary design is key. As good design will live on forever. I found invaluable information i.e. the target audience and pricing for the products that are yet to be designed and made.  

Me & my practice.

The Nameless Collection... 

 I have been trying to work out of my comfort zone lately, I suppose that's what university is there for? To find new horizons. The collection I cant seem to name, it stemmed from architectural geometric patterns from the local areas of Stoke on Trent. I wanted to explore my newly found interest of coloured slip, I started off on my samples Stencilling, but I quickly switched to Sponges. Cutting various shapes and sizes to my liking and what would flatter the shape. As for the shape? I wanted to combine two very primary shapes to discover a new exciting shapes. I found myself drawing these..

Which later evolved to...

Bit of Blue?

Bit of Blue?

Experimenting with slip casting cups. Looking at patterns, colours, application.

I just wanted to use various applications, Stencils, Sponging slip on, Reverse printing.

I loved doing these cups as they opened many doors for me in my what is normally refined way of working.

Back to College

Back to College. 

Llandrillo College, Rhos on sea. Was one of the best experience for me as a maker.

As that's were my interest started in ceramics.

^A wallpaper print slab built vessel^

^Exploring Volcanic Glazes^

 

The two above are both hand built, coiled vessels. Each stand around 2 feet tall.

Each and every butterfly is hand crafted.

Layering

 A Vicky Shaw inspired slab.

Using large repetitive patterns over laying the slip decorated surfaces I think adds another dimension to the surface.With an effect of depth. I think I will use the Monoprint technique and this spring pattern again. 

^ I adore the spring like pattern. Raw state.^

^As you can see from the above,

when stencilling you have to try and get the edges as flat as possible

 to reduce the risk of it leaking.^

^Glazed state^

Architecturally Inspired slab

Architecturally Inspired.

I took a walk around my campus and local area taking pictures of different architectural aspects that could inspire me. I wanted to aim for a different outcome from my usually floral/nature inspired work. I think I achieved that aim with my Design Make Manufacture module.

 

                   

  

^ Here I have used small cut out squares,

laid them on the clay, brush cobalt blue slip over,

made slight indents with the end of a brush

and

then added circles of Monoprinted cobalt oxide wash.^

^I have experimented with transparent glazes,

 leaving different sections unglazed for textural purposes.^

A Class with Vicky Shaw.

I have been exploring different ceramic techniques  with artist Vicky Shaw such as Stencilling, Monoprinting & Layering Surfaces. Experimenting with various coloured slips has expanded my knowledge about applying slips and mixing up my own. Using the method called Stencilling, you cut out any stencil you desire, smooth onto the clay trying to get as little gaps as possible then brushing slip on top, wait to dry and peal the stencil away carefully leaving the slip behind. This was my first attempt at Stencilling, it is a very enjoyable technique. Here I have also done some Monoprinting with a cobalt oxide wash.

^ In raw state^

^Raw state^

^Glaze fired^

^Glaze fired^