Manifesto development
// 19 March 2020
When I first began creating my manifesto - a poem - I kept mulling over the idea of a coffee table; the things we'd find on a coffee table. For me, a coffee table is a symbol of tranquility and relaxation. I mulled over this idea for a while and was drawn to creating a vase. After some failed attempts at vac-forming, I went back to what I knew would work, clay.
I just let my hands and instincts take over to create pieces which were truly myself and decided that 4 "ring vases" were enough to choose a favourite from.
I took small pieces of air-drying clay, rolled them into a ball, then worm, then flattened into a rectangular piece of clay that I could twist into shape.
After drying for over a day, I went to coat the vases in varnish, but realised that I couldn't find the varnish anywhere! Despite this, I quite like the unfinished and raw feel of the clay - although this may not be best for coffee table items, I do think being uncoated is a better representation of myself and the things I believe in as a designer.
As I was unable to access the photography studios at university due to corona virus closures, I created a small studio in my garden with some black card.
Here are some of the edited photos of the ring vases...
I adore how these photos came out! I am so pleased with the vases and I think the black and white filtering and contrasts I layered on the photos really captures the essence of the vases.
The vases show who I am as a designer as they are hand made, lovingly crafted and have very fluid and natural figures.