Clayworks - Explainer Videos
This July Here Now spent time with Clayworks as we created a number of explainer videos for their range of natural clay plasters. With projects across Cornwall and Bristol, Clayworks is a growing star in the eyes of trendy architects and natural living enthusiasts. Today their work can be found as far as Dubai in the Museum of The Future.
Clayworks is becoming busier and busier and because of this they wanted to explore a way of keeping up the quality of their product as more people began to use and apply it. Not everyone has the skill set to finish and use these natural materials, not because they are tricky or difficult to use and apply but because the natural clay sets and feels different to traditional non natural plasters. Clayworks asked us to come in and work with them to help create short explainer videos that would be sent across to new customers and plasterers so that they can follow the exact process of applying and finishing the products just as their professional in house plasters would. The videos had to be clear, and simple to follow but still communicate their brand values of quality, naturally sourced and hand made.
For thousands of years people have worked with clay. Found in the riverbanks and in deposits across natural landscapes, clay has been used in medicine, in pottery and ceramics and in construction since records began. Clay is a wonder substance, its ability to set rock solid upon drying and its property of water repellency is a natural gift. But today, natural construction has been substituted out for less natural, cheaper, alternatives.
James - A Clayworks trusted plasterer
Over the last 20 years, Clayworks, near Helston in Cornwall, has been innovating in the field of plaster and construction. It all began when Adam, the founder, started creating bespoke plasters for his clients from the mud and clay found on their land. This slow process isn't for everyone. It was bespoke, and obviously because of that, it was expensive. Adam wanted a way to replicate these natural finishes in a way that was consistent and affordable for anyone wanting to give their home a natural feel. Traveling with his wife, Adam explored the world in search of the best natural clay finishes, from Morocco to Japan and even Mexico. He came back with inspiration and a lot of food for thought.
At Clayworks HQ we were shown what 20 years of innovation creates. With hundreds of finishes and colors to choose from Clayworks are truly a leader in the field and you can see why. What was most interesting about the time we spent here isn’t just the beautiful aesthetics and story behind the company, it was what we learnt about clay. Clay doesn’t just look good, it controls the climate of the space it is in. When applied correctly clay will keep the humidity in a room at the perfect level for human existence, not to dry, not to wet, this sounds fluffy but what it means is things like allergens and bugs floating on the air can’t survive and can’t spread as easily. It also means that rooms that may otherwise be prone to mould remain dry enough to prevent and halt mould in its tracks. As a material, it lives and breathes.
