Crafting something by hand takes time, patience, and a deep connection to the process. That’s exactly what makes our collaboration with Phoebe from Studio Philo so meaningful.
A graphic designer by day and a ceramicist by night, Phoebe brought her thoughtful approach to life in the Laguna Dimpled Mugs—a limited-edition collection inspired by the quiet beauty of Mediterranean lagoons.
We spoke to Phoebe about her journey with ceramics, her design philosophy, and the process of creating these one-of-a-kind mugs.
Meet Phoebe
“Hello! My name is Phoebe. I’m a graphic designer by day and a ceramic hobbyist by night. I’ve been doing pottery for about five years now. While I started as an engineer on paper, my designs have always been practical yet aesthetic—an influence that flows into my pottery.”
What drew you to ceramics?
"As I didn’t have an arts education, I never really got to do those artsy fartsy things that arts students get to do in school.
And since I’ve started working, I could finally invest in a pottery workshop which was something I was passionate to learn since I was younger. That period also coincided with the building of our first home, and so I was very excited to make my own homewares.
And I guess I just never stopped ever since because I wanted to continue honing the craft!
My designer day job mostly consists of sitting in front of the computer. And pottery is the complete opposite.
I don’t get screen time and my hands are always dirty so I hardly get to touch my phone too. So I find it a therapeutic way to tune out of technology, while being fully focused on what I’m creating on the wheel. What I also love is that I’m actually creating tangible and practical things that can be used in our daily lives. As a designer, I think that’s the best kind of achievement.
Clay making is really hard, but once you get the hang of it, it can be quite forgiving, but also very versatile and flexible. But it really takes a lot of practice and know-how to get there! I still don’t think I’m very good at it and continue to pursue it weekly after work!"
What was the first thing you made in clay?
“Two tea cups that I initially thought I threw quite big, but came out to become more like small sake cups. Hahaha.”
How does it feel to be part of the Singapore craft scene?
“Hmm, to be honest, I keep to myself mostly and don’t really put myself and my craft out there. But thankfully, there are people that have managed to find me some way somehow, and I’m very grateful. I haven’t really taken part in any festivals or markets yet. Perhaps something to do in the future to really feel like part of the scene?”
What goes into creating a Laguna Dimpled Mug?
“As I only go to the pottery studio once a week and don’t have my own kiln, a simple mug can take more than a month to complete.
First, it has to be thrown on the wheel (first week), then trimmed after drying down to leather-hard and sent for bisque firing (second week).
If my mug managed to get into the next round of bisque firing, I would hopefully get the bisque ware on the third week for glazing, then sent for glaze firing (fourth week). And if there’s no other delays, then the mug would be completed, sanded, and cleaned up by the 4th or 5th week!”
What was it like collaborating with Casa Alessia?
“Kathleen of Casa Alessia has been so pleasant to work with and has been so understanding throughout the whole process. She already had a clear idea in mind but was also flexible enough to change details depending on the feasibility and my capabilities, which I really appreciated.
I’m also very grateful that she trusted me on a project like that as this was my very first ‘large-scale’ production commission. And I hope that the pieces that came out of our collaboration will be enjoyed by many.
Favourite moments? Definitely when the pieces came out of the kiln like how we envisioned them to be! Hahaha. With pottery, it is always a gamble. So I’m very happy that the pieces came out well.”
The Laguna Dimpled Mugs Are Here
The Laguna Dimpled Mugs, crafted in collaboration with Phoebe from Studio Philo, are now available at casaalessia.com.
Inspired by hidden Mediterranean lagoons, their soothing colours and textured, dimpled design bring a sense of calm and connection to your daily rituals.
Each mug is handmade in small batches, making them truly one of a kind.
