Eruca Cup
SPACE AGE DESIGNER CUP
Latin • eru·ca ə̇ˈrükə
Means • rocket
OVERVIEW
The Eruca Cup takes direct inspiration from the Space Age era and captures the essence of its style. Better known for its heavy use of glass, steel, and bright neon colors. Often symbolising motion. With that in mind, I translated its distinct style and applied it to the design language of a teacup. Resulting in an elegant and timeless designer cup.
USER DESIGN
TEA CONNOISSEUR
A unique blend of elegance and functionality, tailored for those who have a deep appreciation for tea. Picture a serene morning scene - a tea lover starts their day with a meticulously brewed cup of tea, the aroma wafting through the room as they attend to their business affairs at the counter table, multitasking effortlessly with their device on one hand and their cup on the other.
space age
FORM FOLLOWS STYLE
I started the project thinking of a period and a style to follow. I always had a fascination with space and futurism. So what better era than the Space Age? A common denominator of the space age style is its use of material. There's a heavy use of glass, steel, and bright neon colors and the forms and shapes often symbolize motion.
USER-CONTEXT
With a task analysis of the user's daily routine, I was able to refer to the user's journey to identify several areas of opportunity and criteria for my cup design to improve on. Factors such as; the user holding their cup with one hand, cleaning and storing said cups, including the entrepreneurial status of the user.
CONCEPT SKETCHES
After analyzing the space age style, I adopted and applied its main characteristics with consideration of the basic principles of a teacup to my informed sketches. I ideated 3 cup designs ultimately opting for the engine-like form.
Characteristics of forms:
-
Soft-edges
-
Geometric shapes
-
Symmetrical bodies
-
Motion-based form
exploration
MATERIALS | COLOR | FORM
FORM
MATERIAL
COLOR
Stackability was an important feature to have, thus I opted to redesign the saucer for storage purposes.
I experimented with trying out different materials, noting their natural textures and properties. Ultimately, I decided to use a combination of stainless steel and ceramic.
Color was another factor to consider, knowing that the target user for Eruca is an elegant, luxurious business entrepreneur.