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Crystalline vessels occupy tiered white platforms within an ethereal environment suffused with cool pewter and dove-gray atmospheric haze, where diffused zenithal illumination descends from upper…

Glare Glassware Series by Seda Palanduz and Merve Bahar is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design Competition Category.


IronKitchenware· 2026

Glare Glassware Series

by Seda Palanduz and Merve Bahar

Client: Kapp Industrial Kitchen Equipment

A' Design Award Winner in Kitchenware Category

6,487

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #174694

Colors

The Design

About Glare Glassware Series

Crystal reinterprets the visual language of cut glass through durable polypropylene, combining refined aesthetics with high performance usability. Its prismatic geometry interacts with light to create a jewel like brilliance, enhancing the sensory quality of drinkware. Developed for demanding hospitality environments, the design ensures safety, lightness, stackability without compromising elegance. The series includes five purpose specific typologies, each optimized for function while maintaining a cohesive visual identity, elevating plastic drinkware into a resilient solution.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award

Glare Glassware Series is an Iron A' Design Award winner, a prestigious recognition granted to good designs that meet the professional and industrial requirements expected from well-designed creations. Iron winners demonstrate great skill, high specialization, expert understanding, and creative capacity of their creators. Glare Glassware Series is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished creation that is practical and innovative. This Iron A' Design Award-winning design integrates industry best practices and has competent technical characteristics linked with know-how and talent. Glare Glassware Series is respected for its thoroughness and is designed to provide quality of life improvements that help make the world a better place.

Interviews

Grand Interview

The Glare Glassware Series achieves something genuinely remarkable in bringing a jewel-like prismatic brilliance to polypropylene, a material not traditionally associated with optical refinement of this kind. Is there a particular moment during the development of the Glare Glassware Series when you realized that the balance between crystal-like aesthetics and polymer durability had truly been achieved, and what did that breakthrough mean to you and your team personally?

The defining moment came during the final prototype evaluations when we observed how light interacted with the prismatic surface of the polypropylene body. Until that stage, we knew the form was aesthetically strong and the material was technically suitable, but we had not yet witnessed the emotional impact we were aiming for.As the prototypes began producing crystal-like reflections similar to traditional glassware, I realized we had successfully bridged what many consider a contradiction: combining the elegance of crystal with the durability of polypropylene. For me, that was the moment Glare became more than a functional drinkware collection. It became an experience.Throughout the project, my goal as the lead designer was not to imitate glass, but to reinterpret its emotional value through a contemporary material. Seeing that balance achieved confirmed that the design vision and engineering efforts had truly come together.

The hospitality and food service industry is increasingly searching for solutions that do not force an unwelcome compromise between elegance and operational practicality, and the Glare Glassware Series speaks directly to this tension. How does the Glare Glassware Series redefine the visual and operational expectations that professionals in high-end hospitality environments typically hold for polymer drinkware, and what responses have you received from those working in the sector?

I believe Glare contributes to a broader transformation within the HoReCa industry by demonstrating that sustainability does not require sacrificing luxury or guest experience.In high-volume hospitality environments, breakage is not only a financial concern but also an environmental one. Traditional glassware requires frequent replacement, transportation, and disposal. By using recyclable food-safe polypropylene, Glare extends product lifespan while reducing operational waste.What excites me most is that it changes perceptions. For many years, durable materials were associated with purely functional products. Through Glare, I wanted to show that recyclable materials can also deliver refinement, atmosphere, and emotional value. If luxury venues begin to view sustainability as an integrated design opportunity rather than a compromise, then I believe projects like Glare can help drive meaningful change across the industry.

The precision injection molding process behind the Glare Glassware Series enabled crystal-like optical effects within a polymer structure, which represents a significant convergence of engineering and aesthetic thinking. In what ways did this technological approach allow the Glare Glassware Series to address a genuine need within the broader hospitality industry, and what implications do you foresee for the wider adoption of advanced polymer materials in premium tableware design?

The most significant breakthrough came through the development of highly precise mold surfaces capable of reproducing the prismatic geometry without compromising transparency and surface quality.From a design perspective, the challenge was not creating the texture itself, but ensuring that every facet interacted with light in a controlled manner. Even minor deviations during mold production could dramatically alter the visual effect.Working closely with engineers taught me that injection molding has far greater expressive potential than many designers assume. Initially, I approached polypropylene as a practical material. By the end of the project, I viewed it as a medium capable of delivering sophisticated visual experiences when supported by advanced manufacturing techniques.That collaboration expanded my understanding of what industrial production can achieve when design and engineering evolve together rather than sequentially.

Read the Full Interview

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Glare reimagines the iconic crystal glass aesthetic through the advantages of polypropylene: lightweight, shatterproof, and highly durable.

Its prismatic surface texture captures and refracts light, creating a refined, jewel-like visual effect that elevates the drinking experience. Designed for demanding, high-end HoReCa environments, Glare goes beyond functionality, transforming everyday beverage service into a memorable sensory experience. By focusing on the subtle details that define luxury, the series delivers a new standard where elegance meets resilience.
Dimensions & Packaging
The series consists of five core typologies:
Shot Glass – 60 ml / Ø 46–47 mm / H 70 mm
Whiskey Glass – 300 ml / Ø 79–80 mm / H 95 mm
Wine Glass – 350 ml / Ø 77–78 mm / H 192 mm
Beer Glass – 600 ml / Ø 81–82 mm / H 165 mm
Cocktail Glass – 350 ml / Ø 68–70 mm / H 160 mm
All products are stackable (where applicable), lightweight, and optimized for professional service efficiency.
Tags
Polypropylene Glass, HoReCa Tableware, Durable Drinkware, Shatterproof Glass, Luxury Barware, Light Refraction Design
Production Technology
The Glare series is manufactured using precision injection molding with high-quality, foodsafe polypropylene.

Advanced mold engineering enables the creation of crystal-like optical effects, typically associated with glass, within a durable polymer structure. Despite its lightweight nature, the product offers high impact resistance, is dishwashersafe, and suitable for intensive industrial use. All components are fully recyclable and available in translucent color variations that enhance light interaction.
Design Challenge
One of the primary challenges was achieving a crystal-like optical effect using polypropylene, a material not traditionally associated with high light refraction.

Balancing conflicting requirements such as transparency, prismatic clarity, durability, and impact resistance required an integrated design and engineering approach.
Through iterative prototyping and precise mold development, a refined equilibrium between aesthetics, safety, and performance was successfully achieved.
Research
The development process was driven by in-depth analysis of user behavior and operational needs within the HoReCa sector.
Key focus areas included visual clarity, ergonomics, stackability, and durability. Multiple design iterations were explored through both hand sketching and advanced 3D modeling tools.
Close collaboration with engineering teams ensured optimal mold performance, high surface quality, and precise light interaction resulting in a product that meets both aesthetic and industrial standards.
Inspiration
The Glare series draws inspiration from the dynamic interplay of light, geometry, and reflection. Architectural glass facades, rhythmic shadow patterns, and the refined brilliance of traditional cut crystal are reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.

This visual language is translated into polypropylene, a material aligned with today’s fast-paced, flexible lifestyles, merging timeless elegance with modern practicality. The result is a design that responds directly to the HoReCa sector’s need for both aesthetic distinction and operational durability.
Project Duration
TThe design process began in January 2024 in Izmir and was completed in April 2025. The product was subsequently launched under the Kapp brand.
Operation Flow
Glare redefines beverage presentation through both performance and atmosphere.

Its ergonomic form and non-slip prismatic surface ensure secure handling in fast-paced service environments. Lightweight construction improves mobility, while stackability enhances storage efficiency.

Beyond functionality, Glare creates a distinctive ambiance: whether poolside, at beach venues, or exclusive events, it delivers the elegance of glass with the safety of polymer. Light reflections animate the liquid, transforming each drink into a visual highlight.
Patents
2025/01650
Team Members
Seda Palanduz
Merve Bahar
Delphine Gamze Heynen

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