Consulting
Ceramic Materials Workshop is your trusted partner in ceramic innovation. With over 25 years of experience working with a diverse range of ceramic manufacturers, we provide comprehensive consulting services to help you achieve your goals.
Our state-of-the-art ceramic research lab, equipped with advanced technology and staffed by experienced lab technicians and ceramic engineers, is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of ceramic possibilities. We specialize in:
Glaze and Clay Body Development
Our deep understanding of materials, temperatures, colors, effects, and atmospheres allows us to create unique and functional ceramic formulations tailored to your specific needs.
We can help with:
- Custom Glaze Development and Color Matching
- Custom Clay Body Development
- Clay Body Profiling
Custom Consulting Solutions
Whether you’re a hobbyist potter or an industry professional, we offer personalized guidance and support to address your ceramic challenges.
We can help with:
- Production Flaw Diagnosis and Correction
- Future Growth Planning
- Sourcing and Implementation of Equipment
As the leaves turn and the air cools, transition your wardrobe with our Autumn Elegance collection. Perfect for pumpkin patch visits and more.
We partnered with Hammerly Ceramics to solve a critical production challenge. By designing a custom, in-house slip formula, we eliminated their reliance on inconsistent pre-made materials, resulting in improved product consistency and significant cost savings.
Common Glaze Flaws We Help Correct:
Blistering
Bloating
Crawling
Crazing
Dunting
Just Plain Ugly
Overfired
Pinholing
Shivering
Underfired
Meet Our Team
Working Together to Achieve Your Goals
Rose & Matt Katz, the founders of Ceramic Materials Workshop (CMW), bring a shared passion for ceramic materials and over 40 years of combined experience to their work and their consulting practice. Since 2016, they’ve been sharing their mastery of glaze and clay chemistry—developed through years of hands-on exploration and teaching—with students of all skill levels and leveraging that expertise to help businesses overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Located in New England, their workshop is a hub of creativity and learning, shared with their two boys and several beloved pets.
Matt & Rose Katz
Owners
Matt is a working ceramic artist with a B.F.A from Alfred and M.F.A. from the University of Colorado-Boulder. His background includes working as a ceramic engineer and researcher for over 20 years including 15 years of teaching ceramic materials for artists at Alfred University. Matt is an experienced online educator who loves to use his knowledge of art and engineering to make ceramic science understandable for makers of all experience levels.
Before CMW, Rose worked in the tile industry as a clay and glaze engineer for over 10 years after receiving her B.F.A. from Alfred in ceramic art. She also spent many years as an independent artist and production potter. Rose’s maker and industry experience, combined with her love of ceramic materials, makes her background and knowledge truly special.
Jacob Zimmerman
Ceramic Materials Engineer
Jacob Comes to CMW from a manufacturing background. His goal is to support our clients with consulting expertise and a friendly face. He is an avid hiker and took on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019.
Julia Spielman
Ceramic Materials Lab Assistant
Julia is a recent graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she majored in ceramics and took a special interest in ceramic chemistry. She has experience working with mold making in both plaster and silicone. During her senior year, she focused on research and testing of crystalline glazes.
Marissa D’Alessandro
Ceramic Materials Lab Assistant
Marissa received her Bachelor’s degree in Painting from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She has experience in embroidery production and customer service and has also studied in Italy. Most recently, she designed and curated wall murals for a corporate client.
Our Services
How We Can Help
Product Development
Achieve your vision with our help. From concept to market, we create custom, innovative, and marketable ceramic glazes and clay bodies designed to elevate your studio’s offerings.
Color Matching
Can’t find the perfect glaze color? We specialize in ceramic glaze color matching, capable of replicating any glaze color or type. We also offer custom glaze recipe development to bring your unique vision to life.
Material Substitutions
Facing material shortages or looking for cost-effective alternatives? We specialize in ceramic material substitutions, helping you identify the right replacements for your glazes and clay bodies without compromising performance. Get expert guidance to maintain the integrity of your work.
Quality Control
Partner with us to achieve consistent quality and performance in your ceramic manufacturing. We’ll work with you to implement robust quality control measures and develop the necessary standard operating procedures to streamline your operations.
Troubleshooting
We diagnose and resolve issues related to ceramic materials, production methods, and product defects.
Training and Education
Our team provides online educational courses and staff training programs to enhance your team’s ceramic knowledge and skills.
Watch this video as Rose shares CMW’s extensive experience in ceramic consulting and how we collaborate with manufacturers to address production challenges. She highlights common issues like glaze failures and inconsistent clay results, offering customized consulting services. The team specializes in diagnosing flaws and optimizing materials for growth. They also provide community resources, including a used equipment database and training programs, to strengthen the ceramic industry through collaboration.
Are you ready to get started?
For quicker or small projects, we recommend our CMW 1-on-1 basic consulting program. It is a great option if you are a student, small studio or hobbyist that has a few questions about issues you are having with your glazes or clay.  Click below to purchase a 30 min session to help point you in the right direction. No prior ceramics knowledge is required. Our team will outline the best way forward based on your needs whether it be a full consulting project or suggesting some things to try or maybe offering educational options.
For Larger, more complex projects…
Client Testimonials
Don’t just take our word for it…
Ceramic Materials Workshop has provided us with invaluable consulting services. They’ve helped us identify opportunities for rapid and significant improvements within our current resource constraints. Additionally, they’ve assisted us in selecting the optimal investments for future clay mixing equipment. Their expertise has also enabled us to implement effective quality control systems that minimize disruptions to our clay production process. The cost of this service is incredibly reasonable considering the substantial benefits we’ve realized.
The Ceramic Materials Workshop team is like having a secret weapon for my ceramic projects! They’re super knowledgeable and always willing to break down complex stuff into relatable terms. They were super responsive and always had answers to my questions. Their expertise helped me develop a custom clay body that’s perfect for my process. If you need ceramic consulting, these guys are the real deal!
Ceramic Materials Workshop’s consulting team are rockstars! Their team is the most knowledgeable and is the best for distilling “graduate level” ceramic chemistry for every range of potter! They were paramount in making our clay even better, informing on production process and chemistry. They were always quick to respond and easy to talk to, making the whole process a breeze. We’re so glad to be working with them and would definitely recommend them to any other ceramic business or professional potter.
Why Choose Us?
We’ve got over 25 years of experience and have seen it all!
Expertise:
Our extensive experience and deep understanding of ceramic science and technology set us apart.
Customization:
We tailor our services to meet your unique requirements and goals.
Innovation:
We are committed to pushing the boundaries of ceramic possibilities through research and development.
Collaboration:
We work closely with our clients to build strong partnerships and achieve mutual success.
Let’s collaborate to create exceptional ceramics together!
Contact us today to discuss your project and learn more about how we can help. Email us at info@ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com
