Christopher Jenner's designs, Yixing ceramic collection. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Q: How did you get to know Chinese ceramics and how did they inspire you to design new products?

A: I first discovered Yixing ceramics on a trip to Shanghai, where I was captivated by their simple material beauty. Yixing ceramics are very much part of the Chinese love affair with tea; they play a superbly functional part in this ritual. I wanted to capture this functional aspect and broaden its appeal to a larger global audience through the design of this home ware collection.

Yixing ceramics were first used in the Song Dynasty (960-1127). The minimal shapes of this dynasty were the starting point for the design of this collection.