Ceramics: Materials for Inspirational Design

This work presents ceramic materials, their processing and application within the arena of product design. This is a continuation of my field of research, which is concerned with the presentation of knowledge about materials for use in design disciplines.

The traditional dissection of ceramics within the creative industries has predominantly been focused on craft materials and their manipulation by artists and craftsmen. This is a well-documented area that has presented multiple approaches to the subject in the context of the hand-made object.

The unique aspect of my book comes from the use of presentation formats, evolved from my previous work on plastics, being used to present knowledge about ceramics that is suited to the contemporary, mass produced context relevant to product design. The key focus of research was exploring the use of new ceramics and the potential for cross-fertilisation of ideas within product design. This was achieved by text-based content, delivered in a digestible, non-technical language combined with images that communicated the tactile and mechanical properties of the ceramics.

Content was selected on several levels but included common materials through to advanced research technologies, which are discussed and presented in a manner that extracts the key properties relevant to designers. This method is aligned with the approach to ceramics at Central Saint Martins and the development of ceramics as a design for manufacture material.

Chris Lefteri

Research Interests

Materials in the context of contemporary design, authored books, design and architecture

Current Research

The aim of the research is to enhance knowledge and understanding of a range of materials within the context of contemporary design. Initially this has taken the form of four books which discuss the use of specific materials within design and architecture. To pursue a range of projects that explore new ways that materials can be catagorised, documented and made available to the Design Community.

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