Ceramic Design
Sharp Pencil Design Studio
What is Ceramic Design
Mixtures of soft clay, water, powder and earthen elements are shaped into various forms and fired to make the ceramic. Since ancient times, the ceramic art form has been there, as a part and parcel of human civilisation, and evolved over the years. Today, it is an important branch of study that deals with the designing and making of porcelain, earthenware, brick or any other hard, heat-resistant, brittle and corrosion-resistant materials from non-metallic minerals.
With a limited number of courses available in the field in India, the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad is looked up to as one of the most sought after design institutes offering both undergraduate and postgraduate level ceramic design courses. Knowledge of colour, ergonomics, composition and a proper understanding of core materials make up the basic curriculum of any of the ceramic design courses. What goes hand in hand is the study of ceramic and glass design.
With the years, the course has grown in popularity and has expanded in various forms. Ceramic design because of its constant evolution has a prominent future with ceramic artefacts and objects of use finding a place in almost every household. Large organizations like Natalie Weinberger Ceramics and Satyam Gartex among others provide jobs with immense prospects to the ceramic design degree holders.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Ceramic Design
In India, the minimum eligibility requirements for undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma level ceramic design courses are stated below:
For an undergraduate ceramic design course, the candidates are required to pass the 10+2 examinations from a recognised educational board. In the qualifying examination, the candidates are required to score not less than 50%-60%.
For a postgraduate ceramic design course, the candidates are required to pass the graduation with a relevant subject from a recognised university. In the qualifying examination, the candidates are required to score not less than 50%-60%.
For a diploma/certificate ceramic design course, the candidates are required to pass the 10 or the 10+2 examinations from a recognised educational board.
It is to be noted that certain colleges have an age limit criterion for specific courses.
Admission Criteria for Ceramic Design Courses
The top design institutes offering ceramic design courses select candidates on the basis of various criteria. In India, colleges have the following admission criteria for students applying for ceramic design courses:
On the basis of the marks scored by the candidate in the qualifying examination.
On the basis of the marks scored by the candidate in the national level/state level entrance examination accepted by the concerned institute/college.
At the institute level, certain colleges conduct their own entrance examinations which the candidate might have to qualify.
On the basis of the candidate’s performance in the personal interview round.
Entrance Examinations for the Ceramic Design Course
Marks obtained by a candidate in a national level/state level entrance examination are often taken into consideration by many institutes as a part of their selection process. Few of the top design entrance exams for ceramic design courses are:
UCEED - Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design
NID-DAT - National Institute of Design-Design Aptitude Test
CEED - Common Entrance Examination for Design
Institute level entrance exams
Fees and Expenses of Ceramic Design Courses
The fees of different colleges and institutes are different for the duration of the ceramic design course. The average fee per year of a ceramic design course is Rs.3,00,000 per year.
Scope of Ceramic Design in India and Abroad
Ceramic design is generally associated with home décor all over the world. A candidate can choose to work for a large brand with the responsibility to decide on decorative techniques. He/she will have to work on a design brief using materials like porcelain, bone china, earthenware, etc. There is also a huge scope for freelancing. Freelance ceramic artists can earn more than any full-time salaried ceramic designer. That’s the reason why the majority of the designers work as freelancers in this field. However, home decor, pottery, and luxe dining ware are not the only areas where ceramic designers are needed. Refractories and other domains of manufacturing also need ceramic designers on a steady basis although in fewer numbers than ceramic engineers. Given the fact that India’s manufacturing sector is flourishing, the scope for students graduating in ceramic design courses is expected to widen further.
There is immense scope for ceramic designing in countries like the USA, the UK, and the countries in Africa. Egypt, Netherland, Spain, and France are some of the countries known for their ceramic art. The demand for qualified ceramic designers is high in these regions.
Course Subjects
The basic subjects taught in most ceramic design colleges include:
Introduction to ceramics
Development of societies (history and civilization)
Basic ceramic practices
Ceramic raw materials
Exposure to allied materials such as wood, bamboo, leather and metals
Glass
Ceramic whiteware
Glaze technology
Bio ceramics
Cement and concrete
Refractories
Colourants and auxiliaries
Exploratory project (philosophy/ education and self)
The idea of form, structure, colours, light, space, etc.
Bio-ceramics
Non-oxide and structural ceramics.
Ceramic coating at high temperature
Industrial ceramics
Pollution control in ceramic industries
Upcoming trends
An emerging trend in ceramic design is the development of new research methods that make use of haptic and tacit skills of designers with approaches from other fields like science, computing, industry and engineering. Establishment of multi-layered collaborative strategies is involved in this. Real-world design when practically applied has generated new sectors for collaborative research methods by bringing art and science in the same realm, forging industry-academia partnerships, and improving the relationship between sectors.The ceramic design offers immense expressive qualities in the realm of art and creativity. It also offers functional possibilities in the domain of craft, healthcare, architectural spaces, home décor, hospitality industry, hi-tech products and lifestyle product categories. Mentioned above are the facts and features of anything and everything one needs to know while pursuing ceramic design courses in India.
Ceramic and glass designer:
A ceramics designer works on ceramic sculpture, giftware, jewellery, garden ceramics, domestic and commercial tableware and kitchenware, glass art, mirrors, floor and wall tiles. They either work as independent manufacturers or can even work at manufacturing units and client locations. They are required to be familiar with the technology used in ceramic and glass designing, and construction market works for designing high-end products.
Ceramist:
A ceramist works in designing tiles, bricks, porcelain, stoneware and earthenware based potteries, jewellery, etc. He/she is an artist designing ceramic products which include calligraphy and decorative painting, etc.
Glass engineer and technician:
For glass-based product designing, knowledge of its properties, processing and technology is required. Research and development are done for glass processing like modelling, tampering, edge grinding, cutting, moulding as well as glass automation, design and its application. The latest technology is used in glass manufacturing for making it more durable, flawless, light, thin and eco-friendly.
Faculty in a ceramic design institute:
A ceramic designer or an expert with years of experience in the industry can join a ceramic design institute as a faculty member and teach students the nitty-gritty of the art form.
Top recruiters of ceramic design degree holders are:
Titan
Saint Gobain
Good earth
AGC Group
Manthan
Dovetail
Corning
All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (AIACA)
Moser Glass Factory
Michael Aram
DuPont
PPG
Miller Glass
Aavaran
Tripura Bamboo Mission Industries
Tata Ceramics
Clay Craft
Ekmatra Fashion
Srijani
Khamir
Murata Manufacturing Ltd.
Rangsutra
Average Salary
With a lot of designers working as freelancers in the field of ceramic designing, a salaried designer is expected to be paid in the range of Rs.3 lakhs to Rs.5 lakhs per annum.
Required Skillset for Ceramic Design
Creativity and imagination:
A candidate is required to be creative enough for making a successful career after passing out from a ceramic design institute. She/he is expected to have a zest for uniqueness. Also, the power to imagine is important. That is the prime requirement for any form of art.
Illustration and drawing skills:
Illustration and drawing are the two basic skills required for excelling in a ceramic design course. One should ideally be able to put down the design in pen and paper before giving it shape in reality.
Patience:
Patience is the keyword to becoming a successful ceramic designer. One may be criticised a thousand times for his designs but he should not give up easily.
Attention to detail:
Ceramic designers should have an eye for detail. Only then, they can take the precision of their design to the next level.
Time management skill:
This quality in a ceramic designer is important if he is working for a company. To make products available for commercial use, the design should be ready in time because, after that, it will have to go through a number of steps of approval and analysis.
Course Curriculum for Ceramic Design
The course curriculum for B. Design in ceramic and glass design are:
Enhancement of the sensitivity and sensibility towards design aesthetic and its function
Design fundamentals including colour, structure, form, light, space.
As a part of industrial training, working within a variety of industry such as manufacturing
units of tiles, tableware, sanitary ware.
Knowledge about ergonomics for usability awareness
Exposure to wood, bamboo, metal, leather and other allied materials along with core materials.
