Topography to Teacup
Just as aluminum is sometimes called “solidified energy” because of the amount of electricity it takes to smelt, I sometimes think of products as solidified meaning. Guy Kawasaki recently linked to this Periodic Table of Visualization that shows visual ways to capture and transmit non-visual meaning. Designing a product to evoke a specific feeling is very similar:
I love turn-of-the-century topographic maps that seem to be guides for foremen to change the earth somehow. There’s so much purpose communicated through this visual, objective measurement and cataloging of a landscape. The division of smooth hills and valleys into simplified steps makes it easier for a large group of people to talk about re-shaping the slopes.
Stepped approximations of hills exist as actual landscapes. These terraces were cut to grow vertical plants on hilly slopes.
The tension between landscape and human intention is the inspiration for this small teacup. It’s a caricature of a dammed river valley, its lines blurry like 19th century dam photos.
I’m interested in your thoughts before I add this porcelain teacup to my industrial design portfolio and eventually prepare it for manufacturing.
Would you want to use it to drink tea every day or only when guests come by? Would you use it to hold coins and candies beside your keyboard? Let me know.
9 Comments
January 10th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
I like the juxtaposition of notions of interior and exterior space that the design suggests- the notion of exterior space (the topography of a hillside) is transformed into that of an interior space (the resovoir controlled by the dam) when the cup is filled with liquid. In this way, the inspiration for the cup and its relationship with the user evolves organically as the product is used. I just hope it’s comfortable to hold.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
My first thought, after looking at it, is that it would make a lovely wash basin. Have you thought of designing a faucet to go along with it?
As far as drinking tea from it? It would be a fun cup to enjoy in a restaurant or at a friends house, but I wouldn’t rush out to get a set…
February 18th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
i would totally use it. you said it was going to be porcelain? i would much prefer it in aluminum or polished steel. all in all i think its a hot mug and i would use it all the time.
March 7th, 2007 at 1:25 am
I concur with Ratemus – I think a brushed steel finish would give this a lovely appearance. But then again, we don’t really know what it would look like in porcelain. It looks like it will be easy enough to grip between your thumb and forefinger. Do you have a name for it yet? Topocup, perhaps
Love the idea behind the design.
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:40 am
I just ran into your site through… a link from somebody, at any rate, I think Michael Pollen’s site, and I love the simple ways you communicate your experiences of the interactions between us and our physical world. You definitely have a new regular reader.
That being said, I would definitely find that cup way too awkward to use for tea. I would, however, consider using it to hold pastels, my wax stick, and the little metal seal I close letters with.
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:48 am
And if I had spent seven seconds more looking around, I would have remembered the high likelihood of being directed here by Asher’s site.
April 20th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
[...] ยป Topography to Teacup from Joey Roth Just as aluminum is sometimes called solidified energy because of the amount of electricity it takes to smelt, I sometimes think of products as solidified meaning. Guy Kawasaki recently linked to this Periodic Table of Visualization I l… [Read More] [...]
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:13 am
toilet
August 17th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I would definitely buy it.
Really nice design.
Can I put it on my blog?
- Anastasia