Ceramics Consultant

About This Role

About MAKE

MAKE is a part workshop, lab, studio, and garage, offering a diverse range of programs focused on building creative skills and process learning in making, design, engineering, and art. It is supported by a wide range of professional-grade machinery, tools, and facilities.

MAKE is home to a community of entrepreneurs, experimenters, designers, artists, DIY enthusiasts, hobbyists, learners, and creators. Our mission is to support and grow a culture of making in Abu Dhabi, providing makers with the resources and knowledge needed to turn ideas into reality.

Our mission is built on two key pillars:

• Enabling the makers' community through our makerspace and services
• Building community capabilities through educational programs

We welcome makers of all ages and experience levels - from beginners to professional designers. MAKE is a place where people with different creative abilities come together to explore, learn, and create.

Job Summary

As a Ceramics Consultant, you will play a key role in providing expert advice, guidance, and technical support to our community of makers, creators, artists, and enthusiasts working with ceramics and pottery.

Your advanced knowledge of clay bodies and forming techniques including hand-building, wheel throwing, mould making, and slip casting as well as kiln operations and glazing processes, will enable members to explore their creativity and achieve strong outcomes in their projects.

You will also contribute to shaping the ceramics offering at MAKE and expanding its role within a multidisciplinary making environment.

Key Responsibilities

Workshops & Programme Delivery

• Develop and deliver ceramics workshops and programmes tailored to varying skill levels
• Conduct participant evaluation and integrate relevant techniques and practices

Technical Support & Consultation

• Provide expert guidance to community members across a range of ceramic projects
• Support both functional and sculptural work from forming through finishing

Studio Operations

• Oversee ceramics studio operations, including:

  • Community firings
  • Inventory management
  • Firing logs
  • Adherence to studio protocols

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

• Collaborate with other disciplines such as woodworking, metalwork, electronics, and digital fabrication to support integrated projects

Community Engagement

• Actively contribute to a vibrant and inclusive ceramics community
• Encourage knowledge sharing, collaboration, and creative exploration among members

Health, Safety & Environment

• Ensure safe and compliant studio operations
• Maintain equipment and enforce studio protocols
• Provide safety guidance and ensure appropriate PPE usage
• Promote responsible material handling and disposal

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Ceramics, Fine Arts (Ceramics), Design Crafts, Ceramic Design, Material Design, or equivalent proven experience

• Advanced knowledge of clay bodies and forming techniques, including:

  • Hand-building
  • Wheel throwing
  • Mould making
  • Slip casting

• Strong understanding of ceramic finishing and firing processes, including glazing and kiln operation (electric and gas)

• Ability to guide participants in developing both functional and sculptural work

• Experience in developing and delivering educational programmes, including lesson planning and participant assessment

• Familiarity with digital tools related to ceramics (e.g., 3D modelling for mould making) is an advantage