Slab hand-building is one of the easiest team building art projects for adults to say yes to. In this two-hour private event in the San Francisco Bay Area, your group rolls out long sheets of clay and turns them into mugs, coasters, planters, vases and hangers, with plenty of room to play with design, texture and layering.
The event is designed for groups of 6 to 50 guests, and it is built for complete beginners. It takes place in a community pottery studio in Potrero Hill, San Francisco. The basics of hand-building are very straightforward, which leaves the whole session for creativity; guests are welcome to bring a bottle of wine.
What's Included
- A two-hour private hand-building session for your group
- Clay slabs,
Slab hand-building is one of the easiest team building art projects for adults to say yes to. In this two-hour private event in the San Francisco Bay Area, your group rolls out long sheets of clay and turns them into mugs, coasters, planters, vases and hangers, with plenty of room to play with design, texture and layering.
The event is designed for groups of 6 to 50 guests, and it is built for complete beginners. It takes place in a community pottery studio in Potrero Hill, San Francisco. The basics of hand-building are very straightforward, which leaves the whole session for creativity; guests are welcome to bring a bottle of wine.
What's Included
- A two-hour private hand-building session for your group
- Clay slabs, tools and step-by-step instruction from a studio instructor
- Projects such as mugs, coasters, planters, vases and hangers
- Freedom to add textures, layers and your own design details
- Each guest keeps their two favorite pieces
- Glazing and firing by the studio team
What You Will Make
Hand-building uses slabs, which are long, flat sheets of clay. Your instructor shows the group how to cut, shape and join them, then everyone builds their own functional pieces. A mug might get a stamped pattern, a planter might get layered clay details, and a set of coasters can carry a theme across the whole team. The technique lends itself to loads of creative freedom, so no two tables end up looking the same.
Why It Works for Groups
Hand-building tends to be a bit more civilized than the wheel, and it is one of the most relaxing team building activities a studio can offer. Guests sit together at shared tables, so conversation flows while hands stay busy, and imaginations can run wild without anyone worrying about centering clay on a spinning wheel. That calm, social setup is why it works so well as one of the more creative team bonding activities for mixed groups, from new hires to long-time colleagues.
Compared with many team building workshops, the result is something people actually use: the finished work is dishwasher, microwave and food safe. For planners looking at corporate team bonding activities that suit every comfort level, or crafty team building activities that still feel grown-up, this is a reliable choice for groups of up to 50.
Team and private events are designed to be creative, casual and a lot of fun, and the facilities can host up to 50 people. Events run Monday through Friday between 10:30am and 3:30pm, and the Potrero Hill studio may be able to host an evening event starting no later than 6 PM on request.
After the Event
Guests do not need to wait around for the kiln. The studio team trims, glazes and fires the work, which typically takes four to six weeks, and then sends an email when everything is ready for pickup. Finished pieces are dishwasher safe, microwave safe and food safe, so the mugs and bowls a team makes can go straight into daily use. Shipping is not offered, so plan on a local pickup.
About the Studio
The host runs community pottery and woodworking studios in San Francisco, Oakland and San Mateo, built around a shared space where people connect through art, learning and making with their hands. The original studio was founded in Potrero Hill in 2018 and holds a 4.8-star rating from 64 reviews: a 7,000 square foot neighborhood pottery studio with 53 wheels, two slab rollers, two extruders, 35 dipping glazes, a spray booth, 7 kilns, a slip casting station, a glaze mixing room and plenty of natural light. The SoMa studio joins a ceramic studio with a woodshop, so a group can go from throwing on the wheel to turning on the lathe. The teaching approach focuses on simplicity, relaxed instruction and experimentation.
Booking Details
- Every booking includes at least 6 guests; reach out about smaller parties
- Book at least 48 hours in advance
- Once the date, time and headcount are confirmed, a 20% deposit reserves the event and goes toward the final cost
- The deposit is refundable up to two weeks before the event and can be moved to a new date up to 48 hours before
- The remaining balance is paid before the event starts
- Headcount changes are due at least 48 hours ahead; guests added on the day without that notice carry an extra fee
Plan Your Hand-Building Event
Share your preferred weekday, start time and headcount to check availability. With clay, tools, instruction, glazing and firing included, each guest leaves the studio with fresh ideas and comes back a few weeks later for two finished pieces made by hand.
