In-house training and practice in design for the crystal industry has provided Joanne with a sound understanding of the possibilities of glass as a material. The processes she has investigated in design for manufacture have influenced her subsequent studio work both in concept and technique.

The development of a piece can be led by an exploration into the flow of glass under pressure, the balance of form and texture, or of distortion and refraction within a solid clear mass. Joanne intends her work to have an aesthetic that goes beyond function to express the material's inherent qualities and engage the senses.

She tries to bring visual impact into her work through the use of understated yet striking shapes and textures. Inspiration comes from the diversity of natural forms: the landscape, the human body, or some significant aspect of one of these.

Her recent work explores the tactility and sensuality that can be achieved using cutting wheel techniques and the interplay of the contrasting properties of blown and cut glass.