Ceramics designer : Training

Continuous professional development (CPD) is essential for both employed and self-employed ceramics designers/ceramicists. Keep up to date with trends and markets by:

• visiting museums and galleries;
• seeing what other professionals are doing at trade exhibitions, e.g. Origin: The London Craft Fair  and Collect: The International Art Fair for Contemporary Objects
• reading the creative press.

In larger companies, training is often organised in-house. For self-employed ceramicists, short courses can provide opportunities to learn specialist production techniques and new technologies. Visit the Studio Pottery  website, a portal for information about contemporary ceramics artists, for a list of pottery courses and workshops, as well as details of relevant exhibitions, galleries and museums.

Some courses are targeted specifically at ceramics designers and ceramicists, while others, such as web design or photography, offered by further education colleges or universities, may also interest ceramics designers. Specialist courses are advertised in trade magazines, through business support agencies, design networks and relevant e-newsletters.

As a self-employed ceramicist, you may also need to take advantage of short courses and informal training opportunities (such as mentoring and peer advice) to develop entrepreneurial, business and practical creative skills in:

• business planning;
• bookkeeping and financial management;
• marketing and promotion;
• IT and photography;
• applying for grants and bursaries.

The Crafts Council Collective  is a CPD programme for makers, including ceramicists, and includes networking events, opportunities for business and creative growth and support for new businesses.