Engineering Art

Ceramics were one of the first materials “manufactured” by humans, yet for structural engineers, it is typically encountered only as a ground condition or, at best, in the simplest form of bricks. However, outside of engineering, ceramics play a significant role in many aspects of life.

Jon is a Technical Director in the Structures team at Buro Happold and a part-time potter, having reached the finals of Channel 4’s The Great Pottery Throwdown. His talk will explore the nature, materials, and techniques of pottery, as well as his personal journey from engineering to experimenting with clay. He will share how his engineering background has helped him tackle the challenges of ceramics and how it continues to influence his work in the field.