CMF in design is always a crucial step, however, when working in ceramics this part of the process gives a designer a whole new appreciation. The development of glaze is a time consuming, precise, and unpredictable process that is also quite rewarding. When deciding my glaze recipe, I wanted something matte that would reflect the softness of my porcelain light bulb. I chose to spray on my glaze recipe which gave the surface texture. I find the texture to separate itself from the perfect porcelain surface of the bulb in a beautiful way. Announcing the distinction of handmade material to manufactured. The color of the glazes were meant to be as soft as the light it emits. The accompanying power chords were paired to each surface color with much consideration. I wanted the chords to emphasize and complement the colors chosen for the lamp bases.

The process of creating this collection of lamps consisted of shape exploration in CAD. A number of these designs were 3D printed to explore the best silhouette and scale. After deciding on my favorite design I made my final 3D print scaled to be used for a plaster slip casting mold. The casts from this mold were cleaned and bisque fired. After the bisque firing, CMF was the next and final step. Finding the correct glaze came with much trial and error. Finding the right glaze recipe that would provide me with the texture, finish, and color I was looking for would require multiple tests. Once I found the perfect recipe, I sprayed the glaze onto the lamps to then go through their final firing. I then wired the lamps with their assigned cords, added a silicone o-ring for a comfortable fit of the bulb to the ceramic surface and flicked on the switch!