Born in Japan, Noriko has spent most of her life in Canada. After studying studio pottery independently through various workshops and the Australian National University, she left her career in the dental industry to study ceramic design. She received an MA in Ceramic Design from Staffordshire University in 2013. Her time in Stoke-on-Trent gave her a greater appreciation of the ceramic industry and increased her interest in the balancing and combining of craft and industry.
Noriko’s main focus is good design. She aims to create aesthetically clean, almost invisible wares – items so unobtrusive and easy to use that they blend perfectly into their function and can be used without thinking. She believes that ceramics are both personal and communal; the maker must be able to empathize with the user in order to create a successful piece.
