This workshop invites participants to push the boundaries of functional ceramics by designing and creating a unique piece of furniture.

Through learning hand-building techniques and making simple molds, they will explore the many possibilities offered by clay to create forms that are functional, sculptural, and innovative.

By combining design thinking, technical mastery, and experimentation, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to develop a creative approach to the material and reveal its full potential in the field of contemporary furniture.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Design and create a small piece of ceramic furniture using hand-building techniques, particularly slab and coil building
• Make a simple wooden mold for the repeated production of clay elements
• Assemble different parts of a ceramic structure by mastering gluing and reinforcement techniques
• Understand and manage the drying stages to minimize the risk of cracking or warping
• Develop and apply surface treatments to personalize and enhance the aesthetic qualities of their creations

Over the course of five days, participants will immerse themselves in the entire creative process, from the design to the creation of a ceramic piece of furniture.

This workshop offers the opportunity to explore the plastic, structural, and functional qualities of clay through a decidedly experimental approach.

Alternating between demonstrations, hands-on practice, and personalized guidance, the workshop will enable participants to acquire concrete methods for designing ambitious forms, mastering assembly techniques, and developing solutions adapted to the material’s constraints.

Each participant will be encouraged to develop a personal project while benefiting from the group dynamic, the exchange of experiences, and the instructor’s critical feedback to enrich their creative process.

Schedule

Day 1

Morning

• Introduction to the course and its objectives
• Presentation of Rino Claessens’ work
• Exploration of references related to ceramic furniture
• Introduction to hand-building techniques and press molds
• Overview of workshop safety and operating guidelines

Afternoon

• Getting started with the material
• Exercises in assembling clay slabs
• Introduction to slab and coil techniques
• Introduction to the principles of press molding
• Development of individual projects
• Creating preparatory models

Day 2

Morning

• Design and fabrication of wooden press molds
• Construction of simple structures tailored to the projects
• Preparation, sanding, and testing of molding surfaces
• Reflection on the decomposition of forms and the constituent elements of furniture

Afternoon

• Creating the first clay elements using the molds
• Shaping and experimenting with surfaces
• Exploring textures and finishes
• Setting the pieces aside for controlled drying

Day 3

Morning

• Assembling the various components
• Construction of the main structure
• Reinforcing the assembly points
• Analysis of stability and technical constraints

Afternoon

• Corrections and adjustments
• Surface finishing work
• Addition of functional elements and construction details
• Managing the drying of sensitive areas

Day 4

Morning

• Working on leather-textured surfaces
• Scraping, smoothing, and refining the forms
• Creating textures, imprints, or engraved details

Afternoon

• Final structural adjustments
• Verification of the formal and functional coherence of the pieces
• Preparing the works for slow, even drying

Day 5

Morning

• Documentation of the finished pieces
• Photographing the finished pieces
• Compiling project documentation
• Group discussion on the experiments conducted
• Analysis of results and future development prospects
• Tidying up the workshop

Rino Claessens

Based in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, Rino Claessens belongs to a new generation of designers for whom the manufacturing process is a true field of research. A graduate of the Design Academy Eindhoven, he has developed a practice rooted in experimentation with materials and the careful observation of their transformations.

At the heart of his work, the studio becomes a laboratory where trials, manipulations, and technical adaptations fuel the creative process. By exploring the interactions between material, gesture, and use, he questions how manufacturing processes influence the form and meaning of objects.

At the intersection of contemporary design and craftsmanship, Rino Claessens employs a wide range of techniques, from casting to carving, including engraving and surface treatment. This unique approach has earned him international recognition, with his work notably included in the permanent collection of the Vitra Design Museum.

https://www.rinoclaessens.com/

• Classroom, multipurpose room, workshops with professional equipment
• Supply of materials
• Individual and collaborative work
• Workshop-based work
• Active participation and hands-on experimentation by participants are encouraged

• Group and personalized progress tracking, regular updates
• Self-assessment of technical skills
• Group presentation
• Attendance sheet for each half-day
• Certificate of completion issued by Campus MaNa