Surrounded by sprawling fields and rugged coastline, the Studio Haran workshopis a haven of cool minimalism. While Helena heads up the production of the ceramic lighting, planters and tableware, Joel is in charge of the simple yet elegant furniture – but the couple often work in collaboration. When asked if they enjoy working together, the pair laugh. ‘Meeting at university was a good coincidence,’ explains Helena. ‘Quite helpful in the end!’
What’s your background?
JH: My dad was a bit of a project person, so growing up I tried to make the most of his messy shed. I first got into making furniture while studying product design at school, and I then went on to study Sustainable Product Design at Falmouth University.The course was really broad, with a great focus on designing ethical furniture.
HH: Similarly to Joel, I loved making things when I was young and I was forever cooking and baking in the kitchen. Joel and I met on the same course at university and we got married in our second year. From then onwards weknew that we wanted to work together. We focused on woodwork to begin with and then, after graduating, I decided to do eveningcourses in ceramics.
How do you work together?
JH: From a design point of view, each and every decision goes through both of us. We’re always asking each otherquestions and for advice.
HH: We’ve tried to teach eachother skills, so we’re quite multi-disciplined now. We’re currently collaborating to bring the texture of woodgrain to our ceramics. It’s lovely: the effect looks just like ripples in sand dunes.
How important is sustainability for you?
HH: We create pieces with end-of-life disassembly in mind, so we’re often thinking about how things can bebroken down and recycled.
JH: We like to create items that can be kept, cherished and passed on to the nextgeneration. We never scrimp on materials and, although our designs take longer to make than some, we hope that they’ll last for years longer.
What inspires you?
JH: I find a lot of my inspiration when I’m away from work and have time to switch of from the day-to-day tasks. It’s when I can find space in my mind to get excitedabout new ideas.
HH: For me, a huge influence on my designs is Cornwall’s landscape. I’m always trying to mirror Cornish colours, such as the grey tones in the slaterocks. We both take so much inspiration from the outdoors and love swimming and surfing together.
How would you describe your workshop?
HH: We’re based in an old cattle shed, surrounded by farmland, so it’s not unusual tohear cows giving birth outside!
JH: Yesterday, the farmerneeded help rounding up aherd, so we both dashed out toassist. We’re so lucky: we step out of the workshop and are encircled by fields and thecountryside. We’ve painted the space entirely white, so it’s likea blank canvas filled with light. It might sound uninspiring to some, but it works for us.
Why do you choose to use traditional techniques?
JH: We like age-old processes that have lasted through the centuries. Back in the day,people really knew how tomake things! We’re carvingour own style by usingestablished methods to craft timeless and minimal pieces.
What is your design process?
HH: Before I even touch any clay, Joel and I make a mould together. Joel turns a woodenform on the lathe, which we make a plaster mould from. I pour liquid slip into the mould, tip out the excess and leave it to dry. I then turn the mould upside down and the piece pops out – it’s just like making asandcastle. It’s then left to dry and finished of with sponging and sanding before going into the kiln.
JH: Designs often start with a pencil sketch on paper. I always have to think beyondhow a piece of furniture will look to how each individual element will ft together. I thenmake lots of prototypes using scrap wood to check strengthand proportions, before creating an accurate computer designto refer back to. I can then build a piece of furniture from the actual timber.
What are your plans for the future?
HH: We’d love to take on apprentices and workexperience placementsat our studio. A chanceto keep traditionalskills alive.
See more designs from Studio Haran atshop.studioharan.co.uk
This interview was first published in the Art Issue 2018 of Homes & Antiques.