The Harvard Graduate School of Design and The Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER) have signed a one year collaboration agreement to develop the project “Ceramic Futures” in which it is discussed the best way of addressing the growing challenges of product customization, adaptation to the tastes of each buyer, and the sustainability of this material.
The project “Ceramic Futures”, led by Professors Martin Bechthold and Christoph Reinhart, consists of three phases:
- Process analysis, is based on in-depth studies on specific cases in terms of sustainability, manufacturing, design and business strategies.
- Experimentation by students of GSD-Graduate School of Design, Harvard for the customization of the product through robotics and digital printing technology and comparison with other materials focused on interior and exterior applications in buildings and for urban use.
- Development of the best ideas of the previous phase with the realization of one or more facilities-prototype at the GSD in order to converge the two original studies (the customization and sustainability) archiving the best improvement on ceramic competitiveness.
To complement this project, are being scheduled lectures and / or seminars throughout the year to divulgate the ceramic product in the academic field, mainly in this prestigious American university. The most interesting results of the project will be published in important publications.
The teaching tasks developed by ASCER and The Harvard Graduate School of Design
With this project sponsorship, ASCER strengthens its relations with research and teaching in the field of architecture. In Spain in 2004, the Association established its Network of Ceramic Studies Departments, which includes the School of Architecture (ESARQ) at the International University of Catalonia, the School of Architecture at the University of Alicante, the School of Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, the School of Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and the School of Technical Architecture at the University Jaume I of Castellón. ASCER has also signed cooperation agreements with several interior design schools in Spain. With this initiative, it is also under way several cooperation agreements with some of the most important interior design schools in our country.
The project is now set up in collaboration with Harvard University is the internationalization of this synergy between the educational community and the Spanish ceramic tile industry.
A synergy in which both benefit from the expertise and the knowledge of others.
The Harvard Graduate School of Design is a leading center for education, information, and technical expertise on the built environment. Its departments of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning and Design offer masters and doctoral degree programs, and provide the foundation for its Advanced Studies and Executive Education programs.