Island Verre à soju by Dohwa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award d'Or in Ustensiles de Cuisine Competition Category.

OrUstensiles de Cuisine· 2021

Island Verre à soju

by Dohwa

Client: Dohwa

A' Design Award d'Or Winner in Ustensiles de Cuisine Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #100225

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Colors

The Design

About Island Verre à soju

Island est un verre à boire conçu pour le soju, un alcool coréen très populaire. La forme d'Island s'inspire des îles coréennes de Dokdo et d'Ulleungdo. Le nom de chaque île est gravé en caractères coréens sur la base, et le contour extérieur épouse le tracé de ces caractères. Lorsque le verre est posé à l'envers sur la table, comme le veut la coutume dans la culture coréenne du boire, c'est la base que l'on aperçoit en premier, évoquant une île flottant sur la mer. Island est façonné à la main en cristal sans plomb, un matériau limpide qui met en valeur la finesse des détails tout en étant sans danger pour l'être humain et l'environnement.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Or

Island Verre à soju est lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Or, une reconnaissance immensément prestigieuse décernée à des designs de premier ordre, merveilleux et remarquables. Les lauréats Or sont des créations extrêmement innovantes, visionnaires et d'un éclat glamour éblouissant, qui reflètent le génie, la sagesse et la maîtrise de leurs concepteurs. Island Verre à soju est censé être une invention très louée, avant-gardiste et monumentale, qui apporte une valeur sans précédent. Ce design lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Or est un projet spectaculaire et respecté qui sert grandement l'art, la science, le design et la technologie et en repousse les limites. Island Verre à soju crée de vifs sentiments de désir, éveille la passion, encourage la créativité et nous fascine.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This premium glass with the sentiment of Korea inspired by Korean island, Dokdo and Ulleungdo, crafted by hand is different from the existing uniform shape of the soju glass. The shape of the entire glass inspired by Korean islands, Dokdo and Ulleungdo, is formed according to the name of the island engraved in Korean at the bottom. Furthermore, the glass was designed to be in the form of an island turned upside.
Dimensions & Packaging: Dimensions: 57 mm tall, 61 mm diameter, 60 mm diameter at rim. Total capacity approx: 50 ml. Recommended pour: 30 to 40 ml. Weight: 105 grams.
Tags: Glassware, Drinkware, Soju, Island, Hangeul
Production Technology: To make high-end soju culture, unleaded crystal materials were used. An unleaded crystal has better refraction and bright colors than glass. It is the most suitable material for detailed representations of artifacts and is healthy and environmentally friendly.
Design Challenge: The most difficult challenge was to balance the bottom of the glass into which letters were placed by flattening it. The work of making the strokes uniform through manual glasswork had to go through many trials and errors.
Research: First, research has been done to understand the drinking culture of Korea. This made us engrave the name of the island on the bottom of the glass with an embossed seal, considering the Korean culture of setting the glass upside down on the table before using it. Second, studies have been made on usability. Due to the nature of the curved shape, inspection of the center of gravity and grips was essential. Through several user tests, the ideal center of gravity, grip, and thickness was found.
Inspiration: The design's starting point dates back to experience on the trip to Ulleung Island. It was a time when we were preoccupied with ways to premium soju, a popular Korean liquor, amid growing demand for high-end spirits. While drinking alcohol during the trip, I came up with the idea that the upside-down glass resembled that of the island floating in the sea, and that it should be combined with the Korean language Hangul to create a new type of glass.
Project Duration: The initial design and study of the Korean Island and Soju Glass began in July 2017 in Seoul, South Korea. Additional unleaded crystal materials were developed in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, and final molds and designs were finally designed in November 2019. The first sample arrived in the same month in preparation for the Wadiz launch in November 2019. The campaign ended in early December 2019 and exceeded the funding target amount by more than 2000%.
Operation Flow: In the setting stage before use, you can see the letters written at the bottom of the glass. Accordingly, the image of Dokdo and Ulleungdo off can be associated. Also, the shape of the glass was formed according to the island name, so you can enjoy different forms depending on the angle you see. If you tilt your head to drink the wine in the glass, the person sitting on the other side can see the letters at the bottom of the glass.
Team Members: Jhunghan Jo
Chihyun Son
Minsuk Kang
Image Credits: Image #1 : Photographer Hyunsung Roh
Image #2 : Photographer Hyunsung Roh
Image #3 : Photographer Hyunsung Roh
Image #4 : Film Director Hyunwook Park
Image #5 : Film Director Hyunwook Park