davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage

unveiled at 3daysofdesign, the collection explores the character of clay through texture, time, and the knowledge embedded within handmade processes.

davidpompa edited by claire brodka June 6, 2026 4 min

Bridging ancestral techniques with contemporary clay craft

For 3daysofdesign, Studio davidpompa introduces Can Natural, a new edition of one of the studio’s most established collections, developed by master craftsmen in Los Reyes Metzontla, Puebla. Emerging from an ongoing exploration of materiality and surface, the new finish reveals a warmer, more natural tonal quality, highlighting the depth, texture, and tactile honesty of clay. This new clay reflects not only a different aesthetic but also a distinct material process and regional identity. This clay development marks the beginning of a collaboration between davidpompa and 1050°, a cooperative of master artisans from Mexico dedicated to preserving ceramic traditions and ancestral knowledge rooted in the territories of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Chiapas.

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 1 — for 3daysofdesign, davidpompa and 1050° cooperative introduce Can Natural collection | all images by Studio davidpompa

Craft, time, and texture define the Can Natural clay collection

While emerging from different contexts, both practices, Studio davidpompa and Cooperative Artisan Collective 1050°, share a common sensibility: a deep respect for craftsmanship, material integrity, and the time embedded within handmade processes. The collaboration is grounded in a mutual appreciation for Mexican artisanal traditions and the cultural knowledge carried through generations of craftsmen. Can Natural collection reflects this dialogue between contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship. The finish embraces irregularity, texture, and nuance, preserving traces of the process and emphasizing the natural character of the material itself.

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 2 — Can Natural reflects this dialogue between contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 3 — the new finish reveals a warmer, more natural tonal quality

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 4 — the finish embraces irregularity, texture, and nuance, preserving the traces of process

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 5 — the series is crafted from natural clay in collaboration with 1050°, a cooperative of master artisans from Mexico

studio-davidpompa-cooperative-1050-grados-clay-mexican artisans-3daysofdesign-designboom-1800-2 — the texture emphasizes the natural character of the clay material

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 6 — this new clay reflects not only a different aesthetic but also a distinct material process and regional identity

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 7 — the collection reflects the dialogue between contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship

studio-davidpompa-cooperative-1050-grados-clay-mexican artisans-3daysofdesign-designboom-1800-3 — Can portable natural takes the essence of the Can collection to a new level with portable functionality

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 8 — the natural tone reflects the raw color of the clay harvested from the arid hills surrounding Metzontla

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 9 — this clay development marks the beginning of a collaboration between davidpompa and 1050°

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 10 — emerging from an ongoing exploration of materiality and surface

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 11 — the project showcases a deep respect for handmade craftsmanship and material integrity

davidpompa and mexican artisans handcraft ceramic series tracing human touch and heritage - 12 — the collaboration is grounded in appreciation for Mexican artisanal traditions and the cultural knowledge

project info:

name: Can Natural Collection

designer: Studio davidpompa | @studiodavidpompa

collaborator: 1050° (1050 Grados) | @1050grados

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

This article is part of designboom’s Crafting the Future chapter, exploring what it means to be a maker in today’s world and the future of craftsmanship. Discover more related stories here.