Benedetta PompiliDesignCeramicsMaterial researchEditorials
About Benedetta Pompili (IT, 1995) is a social designer based in Amsterdam. A dedication to materials with a focus on their cultural and environmental impact identifies her practice. Her research & design works become journeys to learn, retrace, and share knowledge by thinking and acting in an interdisciplinary way.
EducationMA, Social Design, Design Academy Eindhoven (NL), Cum laude, 2019–2021.
Erasmus, Peter Behrens School of Architecture and Design, Düsseldorf (DE), 2017.
BA, Industrial Design & Ceramics, ISIA Faenza (IT), Cum laude, 2014–2018.
Recent workCeramic workshop, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam (NL), 2023–ongoing.
Founder & designer, vuur collective, Amsterdam (NL), October 2024-ongoing.
Designer in residency, Creative Residency Arita (Japan), January–March 2024.
Lecturer, Natural Materials in Ceramics, The Material Way, January 2024–ongoing.
Fellow Researcher, LINA x TU Wien, October 2023–August 2024.
Tutor, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam (NL), September–June 2023.
Ceramic workshop specialist, KABK, The Hague (NL), January–August 2023.
Tech Fellow, Rijskakademie van beeldende kunsten, Amsterdam (NL), Jan-Dec 2022
Selected shows Conversing with Matter, WaterSpiegelingen, Cuyperhuis (NL), June 2024–ongoing.
RAW.obj, Pioneers in Ceramics, Prinsenhof Museum Delft (NL), February–June 2024.
Conversing with Matter, Princessehof Ceramic Museum (NL), Nov 2023–2024.
In Presence of Your Absence + RAW.obj, Open Studios, Rijkskademie (NL), 2024.
In Presence of Your Absence, Hong Kong Design Institute (CH), January–May 2024.
In Presence of Your Absence, ADI Design Museum, Milan (IT), 2023.
In Presence of Your Absence, Material District, Utrecht (NL), 2023.
Vestiges, Alcova, Milan Design Week, Fuorisalone, Milan (IT), 2023.
Raw.obj, Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten (NL), 2022.
SPAZIO 1/2, Drop City, Fuorisalone, Milano (IT), 2022.
Ciona Are Doing Well, SVA Bio Art Lab, New York, 2022.
Conversing with Matter, DAE75!, Fuorisalone, Milano (IT), 2022.
Conversing with Matter, Rethinking Plastic, Yksi Expo , Eindhoven (NL), 2022.
Conversing with Matter, Design Fest Gent, Design Museum (BE), 2022.
Conversing with Matter, From the Ground Up, Material Source Studio (UK), 2022.
Conversing with Matter, Design Open, Kazerne, Eindhoven (NL), 2021–2022.
Conversing with Matter, DDW2021, DAE Graduation Show, Eindhoven (NL).
Ciona Are Doing Well, Interspecies Futures, NY Center for Book Arts, 2020.
Publications (w)aardewerk, Volskrant Magazine, October 2024.
Schnitt Magazine, Issue 02: Craftmanship, September 2024.
Raw.obj, Pioneering Ceramics, June 2024.
Conversing with Matter, Design Unlimited Turkey, October 2023.
In Presence of Your Absence, Mousse Magazine Ed., 2023.
Conversing with Matter, DAMN Magazine, Issue N° 82, June 2022.
Conversing with Matter, Plural Magazine, 2022.
Conversing with Matter, Elementa Oslo, 2022.
Conversing with Matter, The Color Association, 2021.
Conversing with Matter, Het Financieele Dagblad, Culture section, 2021.
 Conversing with Matter, Wallpaper Magazine, 2021.
Ciona Are Doing Well, Design Parallax, MDFF Greece, 2020.
RecognitionsGrant, Professionalisation and deepening of practice, Stimuleringsfonds, 2024-2025.
Grant, Starting Design Grant, Stimuleringsfonds, 2023-2024.     
Award, Young New Talent, Material District, Utrecht (NL), 2023.
Grant, Creative Residency Arita, Japan, Stimuleringsfonds, 2022-2024.
Grant, Building Talent, Stimuleringsfonds, 2021.
Nominee, Gijs Bakker Design Award, Design Academy Eindhoven, 2021.
Studio detailsKvK 84375779
Font in use: Authentic Sans by Christina Janus and Desmond Wong.
©Benedetta Pompili 2024
Instagraminfo@benedettapompili.com
 Make no bones aboutMaterial & cultural research on bone china production
2024-ongoing
Supported by Stimuleringsfonds
This project explores the history and evolution of bone china, from its invention by Thomas Frye and Edward Heylin in 1744 to its refinement by Josiah Spode in 1759. Thanks to collaborations with the Spode Archive Trust, Stoke-on-Trent City Archives, and other experts, historical recipes and letters have been uncovered, shedding light on its development.
   Through archival research, factory visits, and interviews, the project has examined bone china production in both Japan and the UK. Key findings include differences in material composition—Japanese manufacturers use synthetic bone ash, while UK producers rely on natural bone ash. The visits to Stoke-on-Trent’s Wedgwood and Valentin Clays Ltd. further deepened this research.
 
Bone china stock and production facilties, courtesy of Global Ceramics, Stoke on Trent, 2024.
Bottle ovens, Stoke on Trent, 2024.

  
Parallel to historical studies, the project is actively developing a vegan bone china alternative. With support from Susphos, a sustainable material called Phoenix Bond—derived from recycled phosphoric byproducts—is being tested. As production scales up in 2025, further experiments will refine this waste-based innovation.

Bone china production facilities, courtesy of Valentin Clays std. Stoke on Trent, 2024.
Etruria industrial museum, previous Shirley’s bone mill and ashes developer. Stoke on Trent, 2024.