Silver Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design · 2023
Water Droplet Coffee Set
by Xin Wang
- A' Design Award 2023 Silver Winner in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 41,125
- Verification code 33FB27F0C9 · Verify this award
About Water Droplet Coffee Set
Water Droplet is a coffee set inspired by the rounded form of water droplets. The set includes a coffee pot, coffee cups, saucers and a fruit plate. Each piece is made of porcelain clay, cast in plaster molds taken from a 3D printed resin model and fired to 1250 degrees Celsius. The curved handle offers a comfortable grip, and the contact point between the handle and the table adds stability to the coffee pot. The lid has no protruding knob and uses an inward curve, so the droplet shape remains complete.
Positioned within the flourishing tradition of contemporary ceramic design that bridges Eastern philosophical aesthetics with Western modernist formal vocabulary, this coffee service embodies a sophisticated meditation on material contrast and organic form. The designer appears to have drawn inspiration from natural water phenomena, translating the ephemeral beauty of droplets into permanent ceramic vessels that retain a sense of liquid fluidity frozen in porcelain. The technical achievement evidenced in these pieces demonstrates remarkable control over both form and surface, with the white elements exhibiting flawless high-gloss glazing that creates luminous depth while the black components achieve a particularly difficult velvety matte finish that absorbs light with remarkable consistency. The compositional intelligence extends beyond individual vessels to encompass the relational poetry between pieces, where cups nest into organically shaped trays like water pooling into natural depressions, and the dramatic angular handle of the teapot introduces an unexpected geometric counterpoint to prevailing curvilinear themes. One might observe references to traditional tea ceremony aesthetics reinterpreted through contemporary sensibilities, honoring the contemplative ritual of beverage service while proposing a fresh visual language appropriate to present-day interiors. The chromatic restriction to pure black and white proves conceptually rich rather than limiting, evoking ink wash painting traditions, calligraphic mark-making, and the fundamental philosophical concept of complementary forces existing in dynamic equilibrium. The irregular, almost geological quality of the black serving pieces suggests landscapes weathered by water and time, introducing naturalistic complexity that balances the pristine perfection of the white porcelain forms. Viewers are invited to consider how daily rituals of hospitality might be elevated through objects that reward sustained visual attention, transforming the simple act of serving coffee into an occasion for aesthetic contemplation and the appreciation of masterful craftsmanship honoring both functional necessity and sculptural presence.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- 'The harmony of water and fire, united by earth' - ceramics, a product of water, fire, and earth, relies heavily on water during its production and use. Water makes ceramics mellow, while ceramics make water lively. The work includes a coffee pot, coffee cups, saucers, and a fruit plate. The design of the work takes water as its source and showcases its different forms, including roundness, fullness, and flow.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Jug: 122mm x 150mm x 125mm
Cup1: 74mm x 74mm x 62mm
Cup set: 120mm x 90mm x 13mm
Plate1: 237mm x 200mm x 82mm
Plate2: 237mm x 175mm x 82mm
Plate3: 237mm x 140mm x 82mm
Dish1: 177mm x 181mm x 50mm
Dish2: 150mm x 138mm x 40mm
Dish3: 95mm x 70mm x 11mm - Tags
- Ceramic design, coffee set, bionic design, 3D technology, ceramic ware
- Production Technology
- 3D printing resin model, Plaster mold casting slip, porcelain clay fire to 1250℃
- Design Challenge
- The main problems addressed by this design are: firstly, how to integrate the form of water into the design of the utensil, expressing the natural fluidity of water while fulfilling its practical functions. The solution lies in the use of different forms of water in the design of different utensils to achieve the integration of form and function. Secondly, how to achieve a good combination of ceramic and metal materials. The smooth ceramic glaze and the metal are prone to detachment during adhesion. To address this, a non-glazed treatment is applied to the adhesion area during production to increase the friction between the ceramic and the metal.
- Project Duration
- This work finished in 2020 in Nanjing, China
- Operation Flow
- The work provides users with more practical coffee utensils. The curved handle offers a better grip, and the support point created by the handle and the table enhances the stability of the coffee pot. The lid design eliminates a protruding knob and uses an inward-curved arc to maintain the integrity of the water droplet shape of the coffee pot to the maximum extent. The saucers and fruit plate also add richer functional experiences to the coffee time.
- Research
- Research type: Ceramic product design; Research objective: To provide better service vessels for daily life using ceramics as the material; Research method: Combining the art and science of industrial design, imitating the external forms and symbolic meanings of biological organisms and natural materials, and applying them to design through appropriate artistic processing techniques. From a humanistic perspective, the research pursues a diverse design integration and innovation that embodies the dialectical and materialist symbiotic aesthetic concept, not only in material aspects but also in spiritual aspects, between tradition and modernity, nature and humanity, individuality and the masses.
- Inspiration
- The work 'Water Droplet' takes inspiration from water droplets, with each vessel born from water and integrated with it. Although not an overt depiction of water droplets, it allows viewers to experience the dynamism of water. It seems as though round water droplets are placed right before one's eyes, and the smooth shape transmits a gentle and comfortable feeling during use.