For ceramics designer Jono Pandolfi, the clay tells the story. “The inspiration behind so many of my designs is in the ceramic process,” he says.

“Ceramics often comes down to a negotiation between you and the clay. That concept is underlying in everything that I do.” Against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, Pandolfi works out of his studio and production facility in the last-standing industrial building in Union City, New Jersey. There, he creates art for the table that evokes a delicate balance between bold, spontaneous design and meticulous craftsmanship. Pandolfi is well-recognized in the design and culinary communities for his high-profile dinnerware collaborations with notable chefs. A faculty member in the Product Design department at Parsons the New School for Design, Pandolfi believes in letting the materials speak for themselves. “I like to keep the design as simple as possible,” he says. “Simple lines, simple surfaces. Think of a design as a recipe—use the best materials available, practice it over and over, and eventually you’ll get it right.”

“Ceramics often comes down
to a negotiation between you and the clay.
That concept is underlying in
everything that I do.”

“Simple lines, simple surfaces.
Think of a design as a recipe– use the best
materials available, practice it
over and over, and eventually you’ll
get it right.”

Shop Jono Pandolfi