Visiting Lecturer & Notes - Mike Eden

Visiting Lecturer & Notes

Mike Eden

Ceramicist – www.micheal-eden.com

-          Initial interests in Art & Biology, but couldn’t combine the two in A-Levels.

-          Went to Leeds Polytechnic for Industrial Design. Learnt trades such as: Ceramics, Welding, Vacuum forming, Life drawing.

-          Initial premise of the school was to design for the consumer.

-          He wanted to design with regard in the world we are living in. Such as declining resources and to move away from a truly consumer market.

-          Bought a small property in order to sell handmade wares. But as time went on so did the production space in which to work in. Providing great equipment and space for classes.

-          Made a few ranges, for shops and galleries, but also a few for HABITAT.

-          Found inspiration in contemporary design,

-          Experimentation in newer/different technologies in order to gain results. Whilst working on aesthetic over function.

-          Learnt how to write HTML code in order to self-promote in the 90s.

-          Became increasingly interested in rapid prototyping.

-          Investigated Visual Perception.

-          Learnt RHINO to use as a 3D sketchbook. In order to formulate ideas which were then applied to conventional techniques in order to create bespoke vessels?

-          Some designs where then taken into a CNC package in order to create matrixes, for hollow cast vessels.

-          Always attempt to make the user look twice, or question the product in order to create engagement.

-          Referenced previous artisans’ methods in their work, by pioneering newer technologies with traditional methods which created rather bespoke and intriguing pieces.

-          He had been put in contact with a French company that specialised in 3D materials, to which aided him in developing a solution to infiltrate a plaster material in order to reinforce it, due to the design being so porous.

-          Using newer technologies, and facilities, he managed to replicate his own interpretation of the Wedgwood basalt black (but as a non-fired ceramic coating, instead of your tradition glazes.)

-          Much easier to manipulate computer data in order to create unique results. In comparison to ceramics where it would take a ridiculous amount of man hours to conceptualise.

-          Hybrid ways of working. In order to things that were otherwise impossible to create with conventional methods. By combining older design with newer design, to create interesting results.

-          Started developing with Photogrammetry.

-          When communicating in collaborative projects, it is wise to keep in close proximity in order to avoid confusion and extra workload.

-          Pioneering in ceramic 3D printing.

-          Art & Mathematics, used in order to create bespoke form. (Chris Wright UK, Emerging Objects USA)