Designing the Dragonfly
There are a lot of pottery tools out there. Many haven’t changed in thousands of years and still work just fine, yet the pottery supply and tools industry has been booming recently. Established companies are being pushed to innovate, and new tool brands are growing into recognized names. There’s no such thing as too many tools, artists are using these innovations to create incredible new work.
Starting another tool company amid this explosion isn’t easy; however, despite the flood of new products in the pottery market, there are still gaps and opportunities for improvement. Tools range widely from $3 to $75 each, with limited-batch, handcrafted pieces fetching even more as art objects themselves. Most mid-level, standard-performance tools sit between $15 and $25. These are not considered the cheap beginner products, they’re reliable, well-made tools that get the job done. They are popular, and a handful of manufacturers dominate this segment. The higher-end “luxury” tools perform well, but the biggest complaint is value: the price often doesn’t match the performance.
At a high level, BuschKraft aims to deliver top-tier quality and performance at a mid-level price. BuschKraft tools will feel and perform like luxury tools while remaining accessible and affordable. Making high-quality, usable tools for both new and experienced artists is central to the BuschKraft design philosophy.
A Universal Tool
The Dragonfly handle started as a concept for a universal tool handle. Something an artist on a budget could get by with just a few of, while still being able to experiment with different interchangeable blades and tool tips. For those who want convenience and collection, buying a set of everything won’t break the bank. I was inspired by drafting pens and pencils I’ve used for years; these are what most artists are familiar with. The knurled grips stand out and feel precise.
The most important design element was a reliable, simple mechanism to hold the tool tips. Several options exist, but to accommodate a wide range of blades, I chose a collet and sleeve system- proven, simple, and reliable. These pieces were completely redesigned to fit the form and function of a drafting pen made for pottery. The grip needed to be longer and standard-sized, with a tapered handle to shift the center of gravity forward. The collet was designed from scratch to assemble seamlessly with the handle and fit a multitude of blades. Tiny adjustments improved the process of switching tool tips, as even fractions of a millimeter affected the feel.
Customization
The next design element was customization: making all components interchangeable for future designs or even enabling artists to make their own parts. The default grip has a deep, tactile knurled pattern that won’t slip. It can also be swapped for an inner grip that accommodates any standard-sized pencil or pen grip. This allows artists to experiment with grips or use ones they’re already familiar with. Future grip options, including wood, silicone, or other materials, will integrate seamlessly with the existing handle. BuschKraft will continue expanding components and parts, ensuring backward compatibility with older tools.
Finishing Touches
Once functional design is complete, the details matter: surface finish, logo placement, color, and artistic touches that make a tool stand out. Grooves on the handle break up the plain appearance, improve grip, and enhance tactile feel, while giving the tool a dragonfly-like aesthetic, as if it’s gently perched on the side of your work.
The logo is laser-engraved at a medium size, large enough to be noticed but not overpowering. To launch this series, we’ve chosen a single BuschKraft red color, keeping options simple while letting the tool shine. The matte finish was selected for both tactile comfort and a softer visual appearance.
Nothing Extra. Everything Right.
As with many design projects, things start messy and complicated. With refinement, they become deceptively simple. So much so that you wonder why the solution wasn’t obvious from the start. The Dragonfly tool has subtle features that may go unnoticed at first, but when they do, they feel perfectly right for those who need them.
The Dragonfly will be launching soon as BuschKraft’s inaugural pottery tool. Ready to help artists create extraordinary work and redefine what a tool can be.
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For any inquiries, please contact:
Email: info@buschkraftsolutions.com
Website: buschkraft.shop