Over 60 participants responded to an online survey, which identified key patterns and characteristics within the potter archetype. It was determined that the core demographic engaging with this research was hobbyists practicing or wanting to practise pottery at home without the need for specialised equipment. Therefore, the subsequent research focuses on this archetype [beginners/low skilled potters at home].

Results

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14FpnFLnpudmdQ1a2GLfTmNPCXv-lXYrSYMjs5mKJ2KE/edit?pli=1#responses

<aside> 👀 Key Insights Those wanting to try pottery were most likely to do it at home with friends. However, those who practise pottery are more likely to seek a creative space [e.g studio at home or elsewhere] to practise pottery alone

Most practised method was hand pottery

The most frequent reason participants engage with pottery was creative self-expression, learning and mastering pottery and then as a relaxing/therapeutic activity

Most potters use social media for inspiration

Experiences potters want a digital experience that helps them to manage projects, eg track pieces, document glaze chemistry etc, whereas novice potters want to learn

There were few digital pottery platform identified, and those that were are outdated/ low code

</aside>

<aside> 💡 Results Summary

Demographics

• Most participants had engaged with pottery before - 73.4% had taken a class or workshop before, 18.8% had experimented on their own
• The majority of participants were aged between 18-34
• Double the number of female participants compared to male
• Most participants were either employed or self-employed
• Majority of participants were based in US, followed by U.K

Interested in trying pottery:

• Motivations to try pottery for the first time include; relaxing, making something functional and making something beautiful
• Those wanting to try pottery had a preference of trying it at home [40% would try in a studio or at home, 40% would try at home]
• The most popular type of pottery wanted to be tried was the wheel followed hand pottery and panting pottery
• Most participants would want to try pottery with a group of friends [40%] compared to alone or with family [both 20%]
• All participants said they would find online video tutorials helpful when trying pottery, 60% would try a pottery class or workshop and 60% would self experiment to learn techniques
• Primary reasons for not trying pottery include lack of access to pottery facilities [60%], lack of time [60%) and uncertainty about how to begin [40%]

Tried pottery before

• Almost half of participants [44.1%] tried pottery through a class or workshop, 22% tried it through school and 15.£% through a friend or family member who practises it
• The most common form of pottery tried was hand pottery [84.7%], followed by the pottery wheel [74.6%] then painting pottery [57.6%]
• Half of participants described themselves at hobbyists [50.8%] and 23.7% as professionals
• A large number of participants participate in pottery regularly, with 72.9% having engaged with it in the past week
• There was only a small difference between where pottery activities were practised, 32.2% in a studio, 28.8% at a home studio and 25.4% in shared community space
• The majority of participants [40.7%] practise pottery alone
• The most frequent reason participants engage with pottery was creative self-expression [88.1%] followed by learning and mastering pottery [64.4%] and as a relaxing/therapeutic activity [66.1%]
• Participant rely mostly on social media [84.7%] to gain inspiration and almost half used a pottery related website or app [47.5%]
• The majority of participants learn via personal experimentation [83.1%], while most watch video tutorials [66.1%] or use printed pottery guides [49.2%]
• Features participants wanted to see in a digital pottery experience highlighted a divide between novices and experience potters. Experiences pottery wanted project management functionality and glaze chemistry, whereas novice potters wanted tutorials, forums, tips and tricks, equipment needed/how to use daily items.
  • Pottery platforms identified were; Glazy.com, Youtube channels, TikTok, REDDIT, Digitalfire. </aside>

.

Survey Questions