the process is part of the product

gathering inspiration for a new ceramics drop can be challenging. i’ve been doing so for 3 years, coming up with fresh, one-of-a-kind designs. this year, to allow time between drops and sync up with my personal agenda, i decided to launch seasonal drops. spring is here, and so is the start of the creative process behind the spring drop. today, we’re digging into what that process looks like.

first things first, i actively seek inspiration in the weirdest places, rather than pinterest. it’s not that i’m against pinterest. it’s that on the verge of creating a drop, i want to avoid contact with ceramics that are too close to my work. by absorbing the content of fellow ceramicists, i am limiting my creative potential. instead, i lean towards colors, feelings and textures of everyday life. it’s the combination of these elements that helps me to come up with some sort of concept, prior to the making. LYS spoke to my own candle rituals and was an exploration of new types of clay. MONO made me go back to basics, focusing on shape over decoration. LÁPIS AZUL was (and still is) sending a message that handmade isn’t faulty.

then there’s the functional aspect of ceramics. i reflect on what utilitarian pieces i’m missing according to my daily habits, or what could be improved about the pieces i own. maybe i need bigger mugs, or i’m not happy with how comfortable the handles are. customer feedback is key. if i’m making 10 mugs a drop, but only 2 plates, and people ask me for plates, i might balance that. i enjoy working with clay in the most intuitive way, as if a mug could be a work of art, as long as aesthetics meet practicality. i believe that is what good design is about.

tools like journaling, mood boarding or visualization help me tune into the vibe i’m after. simply living everyday life, with attention to detail, fuels me and, ultimately, my work. at the end of the day, i trust that each piece takes shape organically. my hope is that, when you hold them, you can sense that there's an intentional process behind them.