Title Designing 21st Century Standard Ware: The Cultural Heritage of Leach and the Potential Applications of Digital Technologies Type The sis URL https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/8755/ Dat e 2 0 1 5 Citation Tyas, Matthew J. (2015) Designing 21st Century Standard Ware: The Cultural Heritage of Leach and the Potential Applications of Digital Technologies. PhD thesis, University of the Arts London and Falmouth University. Cr e a to rs Tyas, Matthew J. Usage Guidelines Please refer to usage guidelines at http://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/policies.html or alternatively contact [email protected] . License: Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives Unless otherwise stated, copyright owned by the author Designing 21st Century Standard Ware: The Cultural Heritage of Leach and the Potential Applications of Digital Technologies Matthew James Tyas A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of University of the Arts London for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2014 Falmouth University Abstract Abstract This practice-based research investigates the potential applications of digital manufacturing technologies in the design and production of hand-made tableware at the Leach Pottery. The methodology for the research establishes an approach grounded in my previous experience as a maker that is informed by an open, experimental, emergent, and responsive framework based on Naturalistic Inquiry. A critical contextual review describes the cultural heritage of Leach which, for the purposes of the research, is developed through the Leach Pottery as a significant site, the historical production of the iconic Leach Standard Ware and the contemporary production of Leach Tableware. This is followed by an examination of Potter’s Tools in the Leach production environment, and a review of makers’ digital ceramic practice. The contextual review is followed by an explication of ‘standards’ presented through visual lineages of Standard Ware and Leach Tableware to define ‘standard’ at a design (macro) level, followed by an examination of how ‘standard’ operates at a making (micro level) level. This chapter presents new knowledge in relation to defining the visual field of Leach Pottery tableware production and its standards of design. A chapter focussed on practice presents the outcomes and analysis of my engagement with digital manufacturing technologies which resulted in the development of new tools to support Leach Tableware production and the interrogation of Leach forms, in different mediums, which led to the creation of Digital-Analogue Leach forms. The practice culminated in the design and development of new 21st century Standard Ware: a range of 9 forms, called Echo of Leach, that were developed by myself using digital and analogue methods: the designs were realised by myself, the Leach Studio, and a further four makers. The outcomes of the research were presented in a three month exhibition at the Leach Pottery in 2013. The conclusions of the research draw on the key points raised in the analysis of the practice and relate these to the approaches to making pottery that are highlighted in the cultural heritage of Leach in the contextual review. These are also discussed in relation to ways in which these findings could be taken forward into development of knowledge about Standard Ware, especially in a broader studio pottery context. 1 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements This research was part-funded by European Social Fund (ESF) project #09099NCO5 which aims to improve employment opportunities in the European Union. Without this funding, I could not have undertaken this research. I would like to thank Falmouth University, the Autonomatic Research Group at the University, and the Leach Pottery, for supporting the funded studentship and giving me the opportunity to undertake the research. My Supervisory Team: Dr Katie Bunnell, my Director of Studies and leader of Autonomatic. Professor Jeremy Diggle, Head of the School of Art at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Dr David Hawkins, Associate Dean (Research and Innovation), Falmouth University. Also Jack Doherty, who Supervised the PhD on behalf of the Leach Pottery for the first two years. I would like to thank those who have supported me in an advisory capacity at Falmouth University: Tavs Jorgensen, PhD Student & Research Fellow, Autonomatic, and Drummond Masterton, Head of Subject, Sustainable Product Design. Also, staff at Falmouth University who have supported my technical needs and questions, especially Liz Mehen, Senior Technician, Ceramics, and Mark Lea, Senior Technician. Also Adam Stringer, Design Consultant, and Dr Justin Marshall, Associate Professor of Digital Craft. With thanks to all the staff of the Leach Pottery and especially Julia Twomlow, Director, and Margaret Parma, and the potters Kat Wheeler and Britta Wengeler. Also, the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, especially Jean Vacher the Collections Manager. People who have provided support and inspiration at various stages of the project: Jonathan Keep, Akira Yagi, Aaron Moore, Paul O’Lomasney and William Marshall. And to my parents, Geoff and Jan, who always support and encourage me. 2 Table of Contents Table of Contents Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................1 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................2 Table of Contents ...........................................................................................................................3 List of Appendices ..........................................................................................................................5 List of Figures .................................................................................................................................6 Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 22 Section 1.1: Background & Research Rationale ...................................................................... 22 Section 1.2: Aims & Objectives ............................................................................................... 24 Section 1.3: Thesis Structure .................................................................................................. 24 Section 1.4: Initial Definitions of Terms .................................................................................. 26 Section 1.5: Researcher’s Previous Experience & Relationship to Standard Ware ................ 26 Chapter 2: Methodology & Methods .......................................................................................... 30 Section 2.1: Naturalistic Inquiry .............................................................................................. 34 Section 2.2: Practice & Naturalistic Inquiry ............................................................................ 37 Section 2.3: Outline of Methods ............................................................................................. 38 Section 2.4: Summary of Chapter ........................................................................................... 39 Chapter 3: The Critical & Contextual Review .............................................................................. 40 Section 3.1: The Cultural Heritage of Leach ............................................................................ 40 Section 3.2: Potter’s Tools & The Leach Pottery ..................................................................... 78 Section 3.3: Digital Ceramic Practice & its Potential .............................................................. 85 Section 3.4: Summary of Chapter ......................................................................................... 102 Chapter 4: Leach Pottery Standard Ware & Tableware: Lineages of Forms & Standards ........ 104 Section 4.1: Leach Standard Ware & Tableware Lineage of Forms: A Macro/Design Study 104 Section 4.2: Leach Standard Ware: A Micro/Making Study .................................................. 131 Section 4.3: Conclusions for Chapter .................................................................................... 138 Chapter 5: Practice .................................................................................................................... 140 Section 5.1: Situating My Practice in the Digital: Milled Decoration & Beakers .................. 141 Section 5.2: Tool Making ....................................................................................................... 144 Section 5.3: Digital-Analogue Leach: Early Echoes ............................................................... 155 Section 5.4: Designing 21st Century Standard Ware: Designing New Tableware with Digital Technology ............................................................................................................................ 170 Section 5.5: Echo of Leach: Makers’ Work & Exhibition ....................................................... 177 3 Table of Contents Section 5.6: Conclusions for Chapter .................................................................................... 200 Chapter 6: Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 202 Section 6.1: Overall Conclusions