Earthen Tea Company

Author/Artist Name

Dawn M. Critser, Murray State UniversityFollow

Files

Academic Level at Time of Creation

Senior

Date of Creation

Spring 4-25-2025

Artist Statement

To many, tea is more than just a drink; it is a meditative ritual. Earthen Tea Company honors this tradition while blending graphic design with the rhythm of ceramics. Through design and ceramics, the fictional company combines rhythm, form, and tradition through earthy tones and natural materials. The company balances digital and tactile art with traditional and modern aesthetics, inviting viewers to pause and find balance in the everyday.

When creating ceramic forms, consideration is given to how the object will be held and used. Traditionally, chawans embrace Wabi-sabi aesthetics, while everyday tea bowls prioritize comfort and function. Carving organic forms onto thrown vessels allows for an exploration of elements that utilize texture and repetition. The tactile patterns were designed to be explored easily through touch. This process inspired a search for a connection between ceramics and digital design, and a rhythm formed between digital and analog workflows. The carved shapes were replicated digitally and incorporated into the company's logo and product design. The patterns and shapes utilize contrast, variations in line, and textures to create natural and organic designs. Through graphic design, organic motifs are combined with modern typography and Yixing clay color to form a natural yet modern aesthetic. The modern sans serif typography complements the treatment of line in the logos and patterns. Where tea bowls allow for physical interaction with the ritual of tea drinking, the design of Earthen Tea Company creates a calming atmosphere that connects the audience to nature through color and pattern.

I draw inspiration from Farm Design’s typography and structured lines. I aim to replicate the same sense of familiarity through typography and design elements. Much like Butterfly Cannon, a London design firm, I infuse bursts of pattern into my designs while considering the environmental impact. Chinese Yixing potter Qu Yingshao influenced the designs through his carvings derived from his own paintings. I often use the object’s shape to guide the pattern, similar to Qu Yingshao’s decision to connect the teapot lid to the body through the carved pattern.

Advisor/Mentor

G. Scott Cook, Jim Bryant, Sarah Martin, John Utgaard, T. Michael Martin

Description

This exhibition showcases the branding and components of the fictional Earthen Tea Company I created. The exhibition was designed to combine graphic design with ceramics through nature and the ritual of drinking tea to create a relaxing, yet modern experience. The tea company comes to life through the presence of tea canisters, a website, tea bowls that could be purchased for use, Instagram posts, and vinyl cutouts displayed on the wall. The tea canisters and the tea bowls are the heart of the exhibition and have guided many of the decisions made. The tea canisters were designed to carry loose-leaf tea that the company would sell, with variations between each based on the type of tea. The tea bowls were displayed alongside the tea canisters and other packaging. A selection of tea bowls were also available to purchase so that visitors could interact with the tea company and enjoy a cup of tea within the space.

Photo Credit

Dawn Critser

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Critser, Dawn M., "Earthen Tea Company" (2025). B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498). 150.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art498/150