12:
Lin Mei
Ceramics
Photos from @linxmm & @jer_selengia
May 2023
I’ve known Lin for a minute, as we’re both Product Designers and worked at the same place a while back. Apart from being a fantastic designer, she’s a dope ceramicist! And an all-around great person.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Where were you born and grew up?
I was born in China and came to the States when I was 5. I spent most of my life in Atlanta before I moved up to New York.
How did you get into pottery? Was it to escape the stressful product designer world?
I’ve always been interested in pottery but didn’t have an opportunity to try it growing up. My background was in industrial design before I shifted into product design. After so many years of designing digitally, I had come to really miss creating physical things, so I decided to take a class and was hooked instantly.
In three words how would you describe Mei Ceramics?
“In the moment.” There’s no plan – I just make whatever I feel at that moment.
“
Pebbles along Californian beaches inspired a set of bowls I made last year
”
How do you find inspiration and stay creative?
Sounds cliché, but I’m inspired by nature and my travels. Pebbles along Californian beaches inspired a set of bowls I made last year, and the colors and textures of a new place inspire my glazes.
Name two creatives in any industry that inspire you?
The artist duo of Studio DRIFT (Lonneke Gordijn & Ralph Nauta) and choreographer and acrobat Yoann Bourgeois
During your creative, entrepreneurial journey, what would you have done differently, if any?
I probably would have prioritized my interests and started earlier, but I try to avoid dwelling in “shoulda’s”
Every year, I look back at my work and reflect on the journey, sometimes going years back. I often cringe at some of my designs! If you did the same, what job would make you say? "Man, what was I thinking."
How introspective of you! I would probably cringe at all of them, so I typically try to erase memories of my past work from my brain haha (answered from a Product Design perspective)
It seems everyone is doing collaborations of some sort. If you could work with another brand in whatever industry, who would it be and why?
My pieces tend to lean more towards kitchenware, so it would be cool to collab with an AAPI-owned food brand like Fly by Jing, Omsom, or a cookware brand like Our Place.
What would you do the next day if you won the Powerball lottery tomorrow?
Disappear ✌🏼
Now, here are some quick-fire questions.
Fried Chicken or Asian Spare Ribs?
Ooh, tough call. I looove fried chicken but gotta go with my peoples - Asian spare ribs
Morning person or night owl?
🌙 🦉
Santorini or Almafi Coast?
Almalfi Coast
White or black?
Black
Tea or Coffee?
Tea
Beach or into the woods?
Beach
Sativa or Indica?
Sativa
Ali Wong or Awkwafina?
Ali Wong
Go out or Stay at home?
This is my constant battle. Right now, I would say go out
Lastly, finish the sentence. "Ceramics can…"
Teach you life lessons like how to handle failure, bounce back, and make something beautiful out of dirt.
Follow Lin on Instagram @mei__ceramics
Cheers mates!