The Pottery Connection

For my college capstone project, I developed a conceptual brand called The Pottery Connection, a one-stop pottery studio and community space designed to bring artists and art lovers together. The concept centers around offering pottery sales, classes, and creative events such as art fairs and gallery nights, reflecting my passion for pottery and community-driven experiences.

Brand Guideline

I developed a brand guideline for The Pottery Connection that reflects the warmth and authenticity of handmade work. The visual identity is soft and organic, using natural shapes to mirror the imperfect beauty of pottery. The color palette is rooted in earthy tones like burnt orange and a soft, muted green. The guide presents a clear and simple system, including primary and secondary logos, typography for headlines, subheads, and body copy, as well as a thoughtfully defined color palette with specific use cases for each element.

Software & Equipment: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator

Business Plan

As part of the project, I developed a comprehensive business plan for The Pottery Connection. The plan included a competitor analysis, value and mission statements, defined services, financial forecasts, store operations, a floor plan, a SWOT analysis, target audience insights, and promotional planning. Designed to be both visually engaging and highly informative, the business plan was crafted to align with The Pottery Connection’s voice while clearly communicating the concept’s goals and potential.

Software & Equipment: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator

Website Design

I also designed a full website experience for The Pottery Connection, including a homepage, about page, services and pricing pages, an events page, a store landing page with individual product pages, and a contact page. The entire site was prototyped using Adobe XD’s interactive prototyping features. The design aligns closely with the brand identity, incorporating warm, natural tones, organic illustrations, and a product-focused photography style to create an inviting and cohesive user experience.

Software & Equipment: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe XD

Photography

Another aspect of the capstone project involved capturing original photography for both the website and social media. I planned and executed two distinct photography styles: studio photography and product photography. The studio images were shot in an active pottery studio to document the process of making pottery and offer a glimpse into what classes at The Pottery Connection might feel like. The product photography showcases a range of handmade pottery that would be sold through the online store. Fun fact: several of the pieces featured were handmade by me!

Software & Equipment: Adobe Camera Raw, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Nikon D3500, other photography studio equipment