Press Release
A' Design Award in Outdoor Gear and Camping Equipment Design Goes to Moka Max Portable Espresso Pot by Somya Chowdhary
The international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Somya Chowdhary for outdoor gear and camping equipment design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 15, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the A' Design Award in the Outdoor Gear and Camping Equipment Design category for Moka Max Portable Espresso Pot by Somya Chowdhary. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The A' Design Award Explained
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
More About Moka Max Portable Espresso Pot
Moka Max is a portable espresso pot designed for outdoor use. The chassis is CNC machined from 304 food grade stainless steel, and the ridged exterior is lathe turned and finished with a scratch resistant PVD coating. A three compartment interlocking system snaps together, so no part is left behind in the field. Functional touchpoints are overmolded with TPU for a secure grip in extreme climates. Biodegradable pods hold the coffee and keep cleaning simple. An integrated rope secures the pot during transport. The pot measures 75 by 75 by 185 millimeters.
About Somya Chowdhary
I design not only products but also distinctive and memorable experiences while also challenging conventional ideas and innovating for the future. I adore designing comprehensive and interactive moments along with my products that serve to develop a relationship between our users and the products. Immersing myself in all aspects of the design process, from empathizing with the user through brainstorming and prototyping to producing and launching financially viable solutions is something I look for in all good product briefs.
Award Record
Somya Chowdhary is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Camping Gear and Outdoor Equipment Design Award
The A' Camping Gear Design Award is an international industrial design competition recognizing good camping equipment by leading brands and designers worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to camping gear designers, outdoor equipment designers, product designers and industrial design studios from all countries. Entries typically include tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, camping stoves, lanterns and multi-tools. Awarded camping gear designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/camping-gear
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/183366
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/183366
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!183366
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/381669
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://8t3.net/1027
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Moka Max Portable Espresso Pot
- Function
- Portable Espresso Pot
- Category
- Outdoor Gear and Camping Equipment Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Sports
- Colors
- Lavender, Black, Saddle Brown, Maroon and Silver
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Somya Chowdhary
- Country
- United States of America
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #183366
Credits
- Image Credits
- Somya Chowdhary, Optional; Somya Chowdhary
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- MokaMax Standardizes the coffee experience in non standard environments. The coffee ritual shouldnt end where the pavement does, it bridges the gap between kitchen and cliff side with a CNC machined, stainless steel body. Its ridged form provides high tactility grip, while a modular three compartment interlocking system ensures rugged portability. Secured by an adventure rope and utilizing decomposable pods, it delivers a professional, sustainable brew at any elevation.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the Moka pot's iconic hourglass geometry, MokaMax translates the domestic coffee ritual into the wilderness. Research involved a competitive analysis of market leaders to design a rugged, modular extension for the portable brewing ecosystem. The project prioritizes durability through a unique interlocking architecture for ease of assembly. Motivated by sustainability and user centric ergonomics, the design integrates decomposable pods to ensure a low impact high utility experience.
- Research
- MokaMax began by researching the gap between domestic coffee rituals and the wilderness. User interviews revealed a need for a mess free, sustainable brewer that wouldn't lose parts in the field. Using a modular, interlocking system, the final design ensures easy cleaning and rugged portability. Featuring an integrated hiker's rope and biodegradable pods, MokaMax combines a minimalist aesthetic with high utility performance for both the campsite and the classroom.
- Challenge
- The hardest part was coming up with a form that felt rugged enough to be taking on usual camping trip and hikes, while being minimal and aesthetic to be used inside a library without raising any eyebrows.
- Realization and Technology
- The MokaMax utilizes a hybrid manufacturing approach: the primary chassis is CNC-machined from 304 food-grade stainless steel for high thermal mass and durability. Internal mechanical interfaces are precision injection-molded using heat-stabilized, BPA-free polymers. Functional touchpoints feature TPU overmolding for enhanced ergonomics in extreme climates. The unique ridged exterior is achieved through lathe-turning, finished with a scratch-resistant PVD coating for a rugged, Minimalist aesthetic.
- Operation and Interaction
- MokaMax reimagines the brewing process as a series of intuitive, tactile "clicks." Inspired by the simplicity of interlocking blocks, the three-part chassis snaps together to ensure no component is ever left behind. The interaction is a seamless transformation from a compact, rugged tool into a high-performance brewer. By housing a biodegradable pod within its ridged, easy-clean stainless steel shell, MokaMax delivers a sophisticated, zero-trace ritual for the modern explorer.
- Project Duration and Location
- The Project was started in September 2024 in Washington, DC and ended in April, 2025 in Boston.
- Specifications
- Width 75mm x Depth 75mm x Height 185mm
- Keywords
- Coffee On The Go, Portable Coffee Maker, Sustainable Coffee in the Wild, Minimal Moka Pot, Portable Brewing, Modular System, Backpacking Essentials, Minimalist Design, Eco-Friendly, Minimalistic Rugged, Rugged Aesthetic, Tactile Surface, Portable Espresso Maker, Coffee Companion
