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The Ceramics Handbook guides the reader to working with clay through texts, images, illustrations, animations, and videos. The handbook has been designed in such a way that you can browse the material and begin reading from any section that is the most relevant for you. The comprehensive handbook also offers current information that can be self-studied: in addition to the basics, the book offers in-depth and specialized information about the material.

The Ceramics Handbook is an open online book for everyone interested in ceramics and its production. The book, however, is not only aimed at internal use at Aalto University but the writers wanted to make it available for everyone interested in the field, because there is a tremendous enthusiasm for making things by hand. With the help of the book, they also want to support and encourage lifelong learning for students, teachers, designers, and artists – everyone interested in ceramics, from beginners to professionals.
 

A group of ceramics experts are behind the continuously updated book

In recent years, Aalto University’s Department of Design has been developing several online materials for the use of university students and faculty. The Ceramics Handbook being one of them, the first phase of the development began already in 2021 as part of the Aalto Online Learning project at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

The writers collected feedback after the first phase of the handbook was completed. The project continued in 2022, led by teacher Sanna Palmu, where they developed the book’s content and structure further based on the feedback. “There is a large group of experts whom we can thank for the completion of this huge work”, says lecturer Nathalie Lautenbacher.

Now The Ceramics Handbook is an open website, which contains about 70 chapters and 200 pages, which are updated with new information constantly. Such a comprehensive Finnish language database on the subject has never before been available online.