Interview with Imogen, the maker of Round About Ceramics.

Imogen is the incredibly talented founder of Round About Ceramics, a fun and colourful ceramics online store selling mugs and vases inspired by the 60s. We talked all about her brand, especially her focus on being eco-friendly which starts with her products and even extends to the packaging.

If you would like to get yourself or a friend a piece from the collection head to the website linked below!

Could you tell us how Round About Ceramics began?

I’ve been creative since I was very little, I used to create small exhibitions of my latest work in my house and charge my parents 2p to visit! More recently I studied BA Hons Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts, UAL, and graduated in 2018. However I was first introduced to clay in secondary school as we were encouraged to try out many forms of media. This continued through my degree years, ultimately dedicating my degree show to a project in ceramics. In the summer of 2017 I took a short course at the Bernard Leach Pottery in St Ives where I learned the technique to throw on the wheel. From then on I fell in love! It’s also in the blood as my Grandma used to be a potter’s assistant and in late 2018 she helped me purchase my first wheel. Round About Ceramics took off from there.

At the beginning of 2020, I attended a course in Kyoto, Japan where I learnt to throw using Eastern techniques, where for example, the wheel spins in the opposite direction. I started selling my work in September 2020; it’s now been a year of selling which has flown by and i’m so appreciative of all the support I’ve received in my first year.

Where does the name come from?

It’s actually quite a funny story. When I was a teenager, I had sleepovers at my best friend’s house in Bath which happened to be near a roundabout. There are many stories about the roundabout but i’ll share the most prominent. One night we were all asleep and all of a sudden we sat up at the same time in the middle of the night having seen a flash of headlights each thinking that a lorry was about to drive into the house. We all thought it was super spooky and we still laugh about it to this day. I also loved the connection between the play of words with the action of the wheel head spinning as I throw.

Your designs are full of colour and inspired by the Art Deco movement - where did you get the inspiration from?

I draw inspiration from a few places, colours in nature, the Art Deco movement, 60’s interior design, as well as Scandinavian and Japanese design. I love reading old magazines and books, Pinterest is also a great place to look for images.

My designs come from the fact that I love simplicity mixed in with bold and colour statements; clean lines and playfulness mixed together. In my degree I studied a lot about blending the boundaries between design and functionality, I like the pieces I make to be impactful as a stand alone object but also useful in everyday life and routines.

Round About Ceramics has sustainability at its core - how do you implement it?

Doing our bit to be eco-friendly is important to Round About. The packaging I use is mainly made from recycled materials, or materials that are easily recyclable. All boxes are made from recycled cardboard, each order is hand-wrapped in paper bubble wrap and surrounded by biodegradable corn starch chips that dissolve in water! Our paper tape is self-adhesive and our stickers are made from recycled paper with no solvent. Any packaging I receive I reuse, so if you find plastic bubble wrap or plastic packing chips in your order then it will be second (maybe even third) hand to avoid unnecessary plastic going into landfill.

I fire my ceramics high to a stoneware temperature which means the ceramic will be more durable and stronger. My products are designed to last when used with care, and can be used time and time again. I also do seconds sales for any slightly imperfect pieces as they are completely safe and functional, this means there is very little waste of any pieces that don’t quite make it to the main collection.

And how do you implement sustainability in your everyday life?

In my own life I just try to consume less, I hate waste, I don’t think i’ve ever bought something and haven’t worn it. If I buy clothes I always try if possible to go second hand, small business or from a sustainable brand. I also love making my own clothes, as one of my favourite hobbies is to knit and sew. It’s always important to remember to reuse rather than throwing away, so I always donate my older clothes to charity shops.

Where do you hope to see your brand in the future? Any exciting projects you can share with us?

I’m always working on developing the next new idea, whether that be glaze colours or expanding my product range. I have just released a new glaze called Baby Pink which is really exciting and I hope that everyone will like it. 

If you could collaborate with any brand, which one would you choose? 
There would be a few brands that i’d love to collaborate with. Lazy Oaf is a brand I love and wear all the time, I think their colour palettes and the playfulness of their clothes would look great alongside the ceramics I make. I would also love to do a possible collaboration with Liberty London which would be a dream, I spent a lot of time in the homeware department when I lived in London. 

You offer custom made pieces - could you tell us a little more about this service for our readers?

I am always open to making new things, so I love doing bespoke commissions. If you email me with the idea you have with as much detail as possible, we can discuss and design something together to create the product you had in mind. My email is info@roundaboutceramics.com and I should also mention that all personalised items will take longer to arrive as they will be made for you which takes a few weeks.

And finally what design has been your all-time favourite?

I think my all time favourite would be my Round Cloud Vase, it’s inspired by my childhood bedroom where my mum painted clouds on the ceiling, similar to the one from Toy Story!