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Another Ceramics Studio in Mallorca?
When I was designing Main Ingredient: Earth, I asked myself “why another pottery studio? Mallorca already has so many ceramic studios.”
That question was valid — and important. If I wasn’t going to meaningfully differentiate my studio from the others, why would someone pay a premium to join mine? Design is at the heart of everything I do. As a UX and Voice Interaction Designer — having worked on experiences like Alexa and Google Home — my role has always been to understand and empathize with the needs of the user. Before I ever looked at the idea of opening a ceramics studio, I started my design cycle the way I would for any product: by surveying the market, conducting user research and defining my ideal customer.
I wanted to know their needs, their highs and lows, their pain points. Were they beginners or experienced potters? What else was happening in their lives that a studio membership needed to account for? And how could I design a space that addressed all of it — elevated, contemporary, and intentional?
Why another ceramic studio? Mallorca already has so many ceramic studios.”
My Process
Over the last six months, I dove into customer research. I had ongoing conversations with ceramicists, toured exhibitions, and talked with creatives from other disciplines who wanted to work alongside ceramics. My focus was understanding the real pain points — and then figuring out which ones I could solve first as my Minimum Viable Product.
Once I prioritized features by importance and delight, I moved into market research. Who were the other players? What did they do well? Where were the gaps — and could I realistically fill them? By the end, I had clarity on both my problem statement and my ideal member.
The Problem
Ceramicists in the transitional phase — moving beyond classes into independent practice — and professionals who want to sell, take commissions, or show at exhibitions need a coworking studio where they can perfect their craft and manage their creative process on their own terms. That means flexible access, quality equipment, a clean environment, and the ability to work remotely in the same space.
What I heard
Inflexible access. Most studios offered once-weekly or very limited hours. But ceramics demands close monitoring — pots dry, the window for trimming closes, warping sets in. Potters need to be there when the work needs them, not the other way around.
Cleanliness and cross-contamination. Tools, work surfaces, and glazes shared without care became a real concern.
Too many manual processes. Kiln loads and unloads, payments, scheduling — and no clear accountability for who was responsible.
No wifi and coworking space. Many ceramicists work remotely and need to take meetings, answer emails, and get professional work done between sessions at the wheel.
No secure or ample storage. Potters couldn’t lock up their personal tools, and there wasn’t enough shelving for larger or multiple projects.
The Delights
Beyond the basics, people wanted more: a kitchen for long studio days. Showers for when you’ve been working since morning and have dinner plans. Exhibition opportunities and featured artist profiles. Workshops — not just from outside instructors, but from fellow members who excel at specific techniques. And automation: what if kiln tracking, membership and supply billing, and wheel reservations just … handled themselves?
The opportunities were endless. But I chose a core experience, and then mapped everything else to a 24-month roadmap based on budget and scalability.
The Design
Next came the physical design. Layout, lighting, flooring, textures, greenery — every detail was considered through the lens of: does this feel like a third space? Does it inspire?
I also thought about the growth of the member. What would someone need if they were developing a ceramic career? If they had business goals? Solutions may look like the ability to reserve a private office, meet with clients, present work for commissions. Exhibition space. And on the admin side — automating the processes that used to eat up creative energy.
And finally, the community. How could I create something larger than a studio — a space at the intersection of ceramics, art, design, tech, architecture, and photography? Talks, collaborations, events that help creatives network, connect, and actually make things together.
The Money
My assumption was that I’d have to bootstrap this project, so I ran the numbers — costs, feasibility, risks. What happens if it works? What happens if it doesn’t? I’ve never opened a business before, and I won’t pretend this hasn’t cost me sleep. But I have the most thoughtful, loving community of family and friends behind me, and for that, I believe Main Ingredient: Earth will soar far beyond my own imagination — even the parts still shaped by limiting beliefs.
Here’s to overcoming fear and creating the spaces we need.
Are You Ready to Rise to the Next Level?
We’re opening Spring/Summer 2026 in Palma — a small, committed group of independent makers, varying levels of experience, ready to discover what they’re capable of when the barriers fall away.
If you’re ready to trust your own process. If you can throw, center, trim, or hand-build. If you’re tired of scheduling your creativity around class times and locked-in days. If you need a third space that feels like home — then MI:E is for you. Somewhere inside you is work that only exists when you have freedom, inspiration, and time to create it.
This is your invitation to develop your practice on your own terms. To be the creative you were meant to be at Main Ingredient: Earth. A ceramic co-working studio for the independent potter.
Our Memberships
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