Digital Ceramics – Craft Beyond the Algorithm

Clay, water, fire, and a 3D printer. In his studio ceraLAB in Innsbruck, Jan Contala explores the possibilities of combining traditional ceramic craftsmanship with digital fabrication. The film follows this process of experimentation, where architectural thinking meets the material reality of ceramics. Rather than simply translating digital designs into physical objects, the process unfolds through trial and error, as the material itself shapes the outcome.

Moving from individual forms to ceramic bricks and architectural applications, the film explores how digital tools can expand the practice of making. What remains of traditional craftsmanship when the hand meets the machine? And what new possibilities emerge when technology becomes part of the craft?