Kami Kari Smoker
Kami Kari is a ceramic kamado-style smoker that transforms a discarded terracotta pot into a functional outdoor cooking object. Grounded in principles of reuse and material exploration, the project bridges traditional ceramic craft with contemporary fabrication techniques. Drawing inspiration from Japanese kamado cookers and local making culture in Naarm, the design celebrates the relationship between clay, fire, and ritual elevating an everyday object into a sculptural, performanc driven piece.
Product Design
The project began with the reappropriation of a standard terracotta garden pot, using it as both a structural base and conceptual anchor. From this starting point, the design evolved through iterative testing of form, heat retention, and material behaviour—particularly the challenges associated with working with white raku clay.
Custom moulds were developed to account for clay shrinkage during firing, allowing for greater precision in the final geometry. The smoker’s internal and external layers were hand-built using slip-casting and scoring techniques, creating a robust thermal core capable of withstanding high temperatures while maintaining structural integrity.
A key focus of the project was balancing traditional craft processes with controlled fabrication. While the ceramic components embrace irregularity and tactility, elements such as the mild steel bands and timber handles introduce structural reinforcement and usability. These components were fabricated using laser cutting and woodworking processes, creating a clear contrast between organic and engineered materials.
