There are very few things in the world capable of bringing millions of people together at exactly the same moment. Art is one. Football is another.
I've loved football for as long as I can remember. It's one of those rare things that has the ability to stop life for ninety minutes. Friends become rivals, strangers become teammates, and entire countries find themselves united behind a single shirt.
As the World Cup reaches the quarter-finals, I wanted to create a concept series celebrating the nations that have earned their place on the biggest stage.
For these concept images, I have reimagined my KISS tile through the colours, flags and visual identities of the countries that have reached this stage. Although these pieces have not yet been physically made, each image proposes how the ceramic works could exist: a lip tile transformed into a symbol of national pride, emotion and belonging.
One of the things I love most about every World Cup is that it refuses to follow expectations. Smaller nations, often overlooked on the global stage, suddenly stand shoulder to shoulder with football's traditional giants. For a few weeks, reputation matters less than belief.
That's what makes the World Cup so special.
It reminds us that passion can outweigh prediction.
A kiss is one of the most universal human symbols, recognised across language and culture. Football works in much the same way. You don't need to speak the same language to understand the emotion of a last-minute goal, the heartbreak of a penalty shootout or the pride of seeing your country represented.
Perhaps that's why the two feel so natural together.
This series imagines what it could look like if the pride of the World Cup was translated into ceramic form: eight nations, eight kisses, one shared celebration of colour, identity and the beautiful game.
Here's to the next round.