Outotsu Glass and Coaster by Satoshi Umeno is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 Bronze A' Design Award in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design Competition Category.
BronzeKitchenware· 2024
Outotsu Glass and Coaster
Client: U&
Bronze A' Design Award Winner in Kitchenware Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #153938The Design
About Outotsu Glass and Coaster
Outotsu means unevenness in Japanese. Stacking is now possible with the concave part of the glass and the convex part of the coaster. The coaster absorbs water droplets that form on the glass. It also has excellent deodorizing and antibacterial properties. The protrusions on the bottom of the glass create convection when you pour a drink into it, drawing in air that enhances the aroma and balances the flavor of the drink. There is no need to mix with a stirrer, and the beer will foam better. Another convenient feature is that both can be stacked for storage.
The Recognition
About the Bronze A' Design Award
Outotsu Glass and Coaster is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Outotsu Glass and Coaster is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Outotsu Glass and Coaster splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.
Interviews
Grand Interview
Your innovative use of Shirasu, a 25,000-year-old magma ceramic unique to Japan, in the Outotsu Glass and Coaster demonstrates remarkable material innovation - could you elaborate on how you discovered this material's potential for tableware design?
Magma ceramic was used as a building material only for walls. I wondered if there was a way to substitute the functions of natural materials such as water supply, humidity control, deodorization, and antibacterial properties, and I came up with the idea of a coaster. It has been reborn as a coaster that does not need to be washed and does not grow mold.
The convection-creating protrusions at the bottom of the Outotsu Glass and Coaster represent a fascinating intersection of fluid dynamics and drinking experience - what inspired you to incorporate this functional element into the design?
It was a hassle to use a stirrer when mixing liqueur with water, juice, etc. Sometimes I mix it with my fingers, but it's not hygienic. So I thought it would be convenient to have a glass that doesn't require mixing. After repeated research, we found the best structure.
How did your architectural background influence the stackable design solution of the Outotsu Glass and Coaster, particularly in terms of spatial efficiency and form-follows-function principles?
The advantage is that it can be stored in a small size not only at home but also in restaurants. The stacking structure of both glasses and coasters makes them easier to use and more cost-effective in terms of logistics.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The coaster absorbs drops of water from the condensation on the glass. The coaster also has excellent deodorant and antibacterial properties, and the protrusion on the bottom of the glass creates convection when the drink is poured, bringing the air in to enhance the aroma of the drink and balance the taste. There is no need to mix with a muddler, and the beer foams better. Both can be stacked separately for easy storage and are effective at deodorizing and preventing mold in cupboards.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Size
W82 D82 H135 300ml
Glass
W82 D82 H95
Coaster
W78 D78 H70
Material
Glass
Maguma ceramic
Color
Glass
Clear Carbon
Coaster
White Gray - Tags
- glass coaster tableware
- Production Technology
- The raw material for the coaster, Shirasu (magma ceramic), is collected from the Shirasu Plateau, which emerged from an eruption 25,000 years ago. Shirasu is a safe natural material with excellent water absorption, deodorizing, and antibacterial properties. This material is only found in Japan, and since it does not need to be crushed or baked at high temperatures, it is an environmentally friendly material that does not place any burden on the global environment.
- Design Challenge
- It is extremely difficult to make a glass so that the protrusion of the coaster and the concavity of the glass fit together perfectly, but after researching the mold, the finish was completed using the skills of craftsmen.
We have conducted repeated experiments and research to be able to instantly supply water droplets from the coaster. In addition, all natural materials are used, making safe and luxurious use of high-performance materials. - Research
- Magma ceramic is a safe natural material with excellent water absorbency, deodorizing, and antibacterial properties. The raw material is acquired from the Shirasu Plateau, which emerged from Kagoshima Prefecture to southern Miyazaki Prefecture as a result of an eruption 25,000 years ago. Unlike diatom earth, it is an eco-friendly material that does not need to be crushed or baked at high temperatures, thus placing no burden on the global environment.
- Inspiration
- When making alcohol and soda, coffee and milk, etc. I thought about it because it was troublesome to mix with a muddler. I also didn't want the table to get wet from the condensation on the glass. I also designed a coaster that sticks to the bottom of the glass. The stem glass-like design that does not look like a coaster at first glance is very unique. An easy-to-use product has been completed.
- Project Duration
- It was announced at the Tokyo International Gift Show in February 2023, and exhibited at the International Furniture Fair Tokyo in March and Interior Lifestyle Tokyo in June.
- Operation Flow
- Outotsu means unevenness in Japanese. By making the shape conical, we have made it possible to insert it without worrying about its orientation. In addition, the protrusion at the bottom of the glass has the function of rotating and mixing like a tornado just by pouring a drink. By using Shirasu, a natural material unique to Japan, the coaster absorbs moisture from drops and the air, and also acts as an air cleaner to deodorize the room. It is also antibacterial and expensive, so it is hygienic and safe to put in your mouth, making it a very rare material that is good for the environment.
Sponsored
Explore Beyond Designers.org
Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.
More to Explore
Related Designs
Explore more award-winning designs from the same category, selected by merit.
