Ceramics Designer

Also known as:

Designer, Ceramics
Pottery Designer

Introduction

Ceramics designers create designs for three-dimensional pottery products. Ceramics designers who are self-employed or work for small companies, are likely to handcraft their own designs. Ceramics designers who work for large companies are likely to produce designs for mass production.

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Work Activities

Ceramics designers create designs for three-dimensional pottery products. Ceramics designers who work in industry are quite different from potters/designer-craftworkers who are usually self-employed or work for small companies.

Ceramics designers who work in industry design goods for mass-production. These include items such as:
• tableware, kitchenware and ovenware
• wall and floor tiles
• bathroom fittings such as toilets and handbasins
• gifts and decorative items.

They are involved in a rigid design process. Creativity is limited by cost, time and manufacturing capability.

Ceramics designers work to a brief. This includes the type of ceramics required and how much money is available for production. It also outlines what the product is to be used for and who is likely to use it. The brief may be prepared in consultation with clients and/or marketing executives. Ceramics designers then do further research. This helps to establish how well existing designs are doing, and what competitors are producing. They also consider technical factors such as kiln temperatures, decorative techniques, and glazes.

After ceramics designers have finished their research, they sketch their ideas for designs. They show them to clients and senior management for approval. Changes may then be made, followed by the production of a small number of samples. Industrial ceramic designers generally specialise in designing shapes or patterns.

Potters or designer-craftworkers are usually based in studios and workshops. They produce goods on a small scale. These could include functional items such as dinnerware or one-off ornamental pieces. They may be involved in some, but not always all of the stages of the design process. Some combine working to a brief and doing research with being an artist. They use traditional craft methods using a potter's wheel or slipcasting where liquid clay is poured into a mould.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a ceramics designer, you will need to be artistic, creative and have original ideas. You also need an excellent appreciation of colour, shape and form. Drawing and painting skills are vital.

Potters and designer-craftworkers need excellent practical ceramics craft skills, such as the ability to paint intricate decorations onto ceramic pots. Patience is needed as it may take weeks to finish a product.

Communication and business skills are important. Most ceramics designers are involved in presentations and need to be able to talk convincingly about their work.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for designers vary with employer and responsibilities.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Ceramics designers earn in the range of £18,000 - £24,500 a year, rising to around £30,000 a year.

Self-employed designer-craftworkers are likely to earn at the lower end of the range, especially when they start out.

Ceramics designers work a basic 39-hour week, Monday to Friday. Self-employed designers may work irregular hours, depending on how much work they have week-to-week. However, in both cases, late finishes and weekend work may be required, especially to meet deadlines.

Large commercial manufacturers may employ ceramics designers as freelance or in-house designers. Many of these can be found in North Staffordshire. Some companies specialise in particular work, for example making ceramic tiles.

Other opportunities can be found with design consultancies or in retailing.

Entry to this area of design is very competitive.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills gained as an assistant in a design studio or workshop, or in a design consultancy are valued. Commercial awareness and an understanding of the ceramics industry is an advantage.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details.

They can lead to relevant degree/HND courses.

Universities and colleges of higher education (HE) will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements, especially those with experience in arts, crafts or design. You should check the admissions policy of individual universities and HE colleges.

To enter this work or relevant courses, you need to have a portfolio of work showing your creative ability.

• 45% of people in occupations such as ceramics designer are self-employed.
• 22% work part-time.
• 5% have flexible hours.
• 0% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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New Developments

This occupation may involve homeworking.  Find out more about Working from home.