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A Mechanical Engineer Takes On Clay | Chris Pratt | Episode 1147
Chris Pratt | Episode 1147
Chris Pratt is a mechanical engineer who makes double walled ceramic mugs. After being laid off during Covid Chris started designing and making plaster molds for slip casting. Over the past few years Chris has refined his process with automated casting and glazing machines.
SPONSORS
You can help support the show!
GRPotteryForms.com
diamondcoretools.com
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
How does an engineer see clay differently than how an artist would see it?
I view it as a material and there are certain material behaviors that you learn as an engineer that carry over from one to another. And when you understand those you can try to use similar processes with different materials and see how it works.
What’s the base problem you are solving?
It’s more of a curiosity of what can be done. If you understand how things you work you realize that there are a million different ways to do a thing. And the way everybody thinks about them is pretty unique.
How is material research different than market research?
I don’t know. I don’t do much market research. I kind of just make things and show it to people. And I’ve noticed a lot of my audience is fairly similar to my engineering background. I get a lot of engineers but there are also ceramic artists that follow me as well.
Is it the process you want to eventually market or is it the product you want to eventually market?
It’s the product. And I am kind of just showing the process to get people’s attention to show that it is something different. And when they see the process and then the final product it is hopefully interesting.
How do you protect you idea from being copied or stolen?
I think once you show people what’s possible they are going to try to do the same thing. And I think somebody is going to figure it out eventually or do something similar whether it’s the same way or they come up with their own new way. That’s innovation at any level. People seeing what other people have done and you have your own ideas and try to solve either the same problem or use the same ideas.
Do you encourage the standing on the shoulders of others then? Which is one way of looking at it.
Yes, there are definitely people that I have learned from and watched on Instagram or whatever that are just sharing information and what they have learned. So there is part of that community that is helpful.
Book
Rick Rubin The Creative Act
Contact
prattceramics.com
Instagram: @prattceramics
Kickstarter Link: Click Here
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By Show Notes – The Potters CastChris Pratt | Episode 1147
Chris Pratt is a mechanical engineer who makes double walled ceramic mugs. After being laid off during Covid Chris started designing and making plaster molds for slip casting. Over the past few years Chris has refined his process with automated casting and glazing machines.
SPONSORS
You can help support the show!
GRPotteryForms.com
diamondcoretools.com
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
How does an engineer see clay differently than how an artist would see it?
I view it as a material and there are certain material behaviors that you learn as an engineer that carry over from one to another. And when you understand those you can try to use similar processes with different materials and see how it works.
What’s the base problem you are solving?
It’s more of a curiosity of what can be done. If you understand how things you work you realize that there are a million different ways to do a thing. And the way everybody thinks about them is pretty unique.
How is material research different than market research?
I don’t know. I don’t do much market research. I kind of just make things and show it to people. And I’ve noticed a lot of my audience is fairly similar to my engineering background. I get a lot of engineers but there are also ceramic artists that follow me as well.
Is it the process you want to eventually market or is it the product you want to eventually market?
It’s the product. And I am kind of just showing the process to get people’s attention to show that it is something different. And when they see the process and then the final product it is hopefully interesting.
How do you protect you idea from being copied or stolen?
I think once you show people what’s possible they are going to try to do the same thing. And I think somebody is going to figure it out eventually or do something similar whether it’s the same way or they come up with their own new way. That’s innovation at any level. People seeing what other people have done and you have your own ideas and try to solve either the same problem or use the same ideas.
Do you encourage the standing on the shoulders of others then? Which is one way of looking at it.
Yes, there are definitely people that I have learned from and watched on Instagram or whatever that are just sharing information and what they have learned. So there is part of that community that is helpful.
Book
Rick Rubin The Creative Act
Contact
prattceramics.com
Instagram: @prattceramics
Kickstarter Link: Click Here