A Degree of Fun

A closer look at Glasgow School of Art project work

Sue Mifsud

In 2005, after 13 years of working with clay, I started the six year, distance learning, BA Hons Degree course in Ceramic Design at Glasgow School of Art. 

Each year I visit Glasgow for two residential periods of two weeks, one session at Easter the other in September and during the months in between visits we are required to complete set projects.  With over two and a half years work and a Diploma now behind me I’m amazed in what directions the project work has taken me; I knew I wanted to escape my throwing comfort zone and explore unknown territory and the project work has certainly enabled me to do that.  This is a look at the process involved in completing what turned out to be my favourite project to date.

The brief

In March 2007 we were given a project by the name of ‘Mind the Gap’ for completion and presentation during the September 2007 residential.  The brief was to research, design and make a ceramic object which we considered would fill a gap in market provision. 

The thought process

Thinking of a product that doesn’t already exist in the market place is a broad subject but I was already sure when we were given the verbal project brief that, as my last project regarding propaganda had been very serious, I wanted this one to be fun and a complete campaign inclusive of advertising.

My thought process started with the small collection of stoneware bottles, foot warmers and hot water bottles that I have at home, they are from different eras and different makers and attract me because of their history and functionality.   I had never taken into consideration when and why stoneware hot water bottles stopped being made and so contacted Denby’s in the UK to find out, their reply was that they had stopped in the 1950s when electric blankets made them obsolete.  I then thought about what product could have taken its place ….. it would have to be a functional pot of some sort…..one that would be used regularly……household…. the ‘Cool Bot Pot’ was born!

The Cool Bot Pot is a stoneware pot that you sit on to cool your bum and prevent sweating.  Operated using cold water from a running tap, an inlet pipe is attached to one side of the pot allowing water to flow in, and an outlet pipe which allows warmed water to flow out.   So how would this have been marketed in the 1950s?....

A couple of years ago I picked up a box full of 1950s magazines at a car boot sale and started rummaging through them.  It was surprisingly striking (although it shouldn’t have been) that woman were portrayed during this period as being the house wife; dusting, washing, feeding their children and hard working husband.  It was also evident that if companies wanted their ‘female products’ to sell they needed to angle the advert at women looking the best and doing what’s best for their man and family.

So the Cool Bot Pot was destined to be a product for the lady who would buy the pot in an effort to remain perfect and sweat free for her man………

The magazine advertisement

The mould

So with a good marketing foundation and research giving me a clear idea of design I felt the most appropriate technique to produce the pot would be by using a mould as I could then experiment with glaze colours on a number of pots.  This was a lengthy, heavy process using some 30kgs of plaster and an old tractor seat to produce a rough shape to work from.

1

Any holes and dents in the tractor seat were filled with clay to give me a shape as close to what I wanted as possible

4

The positive form which was sanded and shaped for what will be the final shape taking into consideration 10% shrinkage of the fired clay

2

Moulding the positive object to produce a negative form

5

The two part press mould made from the positive form

3

Setting up the negative form to produce a positive form

6

Just out of the mould, with thrown inlet and outlet pipe attachments added

The pot

When choosing the glaze I was heavily influenced by the salt glazed pots in my stoneware collection and so mixed a dark chocolate brown colour with red iron oxide to imitate it for one pot and to enhance the sculptural value of the piece I glazed a second pot with a manganese and copper mix to produce a metallic affect.  Both were fired to stoneware cone 6, 1240 degrees C.

Manganese and copper mix

Dark chocolate brown with red iron oxide

The bronze Cool Bot Pot together with 10 metres of clear piping happily survived the trip to Glasgow with me in September 2007 in my hand luggage, and luckily avoided questioning by airport security!

Have fun getting dirty – Sue Mifsud

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