HQ Studio was established as a collaborative design studio by Everett Hoffman and John Quick. Driven by an interest in well-designed functional objects, Hoffman’s background in metal fabrication and Quick’s expertise in ceramics create a dialogue between the material properties inherent between the two distinctive materials. The initial launch of their project title Fettle, combines blackened steel and translucent porcelain slip. While these materials shape the initial series, the project is rooted in experimentation—embracing other metals, clays, and slip-casting techniques as the work evolves.
By combining two distinct material languages—industrial precision and ceramic delicacy—we seek to create objects that feel both timeless and approachable. The steel forms provide structure, weight, and permanence, while the porcelain introduces warmth, light, and permeability. Together, these elements create a dialogue between contrast and harmony: hard and soft, opaque and glowing, grounded and ethereal.
Equally important is the honesty of the processes themselves. Welding, fabrication, and slip casting are techniques that inevitably leave behind evidence of their making—fettle lines, edges, and subtle irregularities. Rather than concealing these marks, we choose to celebrate them, allowing the objects to carry traces of the imperfect, human gestures that shaped them. These details highlight the intersection of design intention and material resistance, giving each piece a distinct presence.
At its core, this collaboration is about making design that honors the handmade, embraces irregularity, and elevates material authenticity—creating objects that are both contemporary and enduring.