Clay and Sway by Duali Primary Function: Cangkia by Duali Studio is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Gangsa in Paralatan Dapua Competition Category.
GangsaParalatan Dapua· 2026
Clay and Sway by Duali Primary Function: Cangkia
by Duali Studio
Client: Duali Studio
A' Design Award Gangsa Winner in Paralatan Dapua Category
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The Design
About Clay and Sway by Duali Primary Function: Cangkia
Book Text: Konsep Duali jo cangkia Clay and Sway adolah untuak manciptoan dialog antaro duo elemen nan batantangan tapi harmonis, katatapan nan sajuak jo kaku dari porselen (clay) jo garakan nan lamak sarato dinamis dari rumbai (sway). Tantangannyo adolah untuak mandisain sabuah bando nan indak sajo duduak di ateh meja tapi iduik di ateh meja tu. Sabuah panjajakan tantang baa caronyo sabuah bando nan statis dapek dibari raso kahidupan. Pola tinta nan disiramkan jo tangan di ateh cangkia mamastikan indak ado duo cangkia nan samo bana. Rumbai tu sudah tu diikek jo tangan ka dalam lubang nan alah dibor untuak mamastikan hubungan nan barasiah jo jujua antaro kaduo bahan tu.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award Gangsa
Clay and Sway by Duali Primary Function: Cangkia adolah pamenang A' Design Award Gangsa, sabuah pangakuan nan sangaik bapresti nan dibarikan ka rancangan nan cemerlang nan dicirikan dek kreativitas, kacerdikan jo kabijaksanaan. Pamenang Gangsa adolah karya nan cukuik mahir jo kreatif sacaro mangesankan nan mamastikan pangalaman nan luas, imajinasi jo kacerdikan parancangnyo. Clay and Sway by Duali Primary Function: Cangkia dipaokan manjadi bando nan sangaik dihormati, dikagumi jo disayangi, nan profesional jo inovatif sacaro nampak. Rancangan nan manang Gangsa iko mamuek praktik tabaik dalam seni, ilimu, rancangan jo teknologi jo cemerlang dalam parhatian ka rincian. Clay and Sway by Duali Primary Function: Cangkia mamanuhi kaparluan jo elok, manyantuah karinduan, mamikaik parasaan jo manarik raso ingin tahu.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Clay and Sway mug is a minimalist porcelain canvas, made dramatic with spontaneous, hand splattered ink pattern which ensures no two mugs are ever identical. The half-moon handle has textile tassels which are not merely glued on. The tassels are meticulously threaded and hand-tied into the precision-drilled apertures which are integrated directly into the handle during its formation. This is a first-of-its kind mug which fuses porcelain and textile into a functional coffee mug.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The product dimensions with the handle are 292mm x 76mm x 89mm. We used 3D modelling software for prototyping of handle ergonomics and traditional clay modelling to understand weight and balance. The handle’s specific curvature and the tassel’s weight were meticulously calculated and prototyped using 3D modelling to ensure the perfect balance, preventing any tipping or strain on the wrist. Each tassel is hand-tied and cut to precision to maintain the length with the mug body.
- Tags
- clay and sway, coffeemugcouture, mug with charms, tassels mug, coffee mug with charms
- Production Technology
- Our product is entirely handmade from fine porcelain. Each mug is individually hand splattered with glaze which ensures no two mugs are ever identical. Each mug body is individually slip-cast, followed by the manual attachment of its handle. We then drill the handle's apertures before the piece undergoes a patient, multi-day air-drying process. The final assembly is an entirely manual stage: skilled artisans, who specialise in intricate thread work, personally tie every tassel to the cured porcelain, ensuring each mug meets our standards of craftsmanship.
- Design Challenge
- Finding the right textile for the mug that is so functional in use was one of the hardest challenge. Our objective was to identify a material with three key performance attributes - exceptional colorfastness, rapid drying capabilities, and shape retention. After subjecting a wide range of textiles to rigorous and repeated wash cycles, we successfully finalized a specialized thread that meets these demanding criteria, ensuring both the beauty and longevity of the final product.
- Research
- Our research objective was to understand technical feasibility, see the market uniqueness, check durability and to understand the user experience. Over eight months, we subjected over 20 different types of textile threads to a series of aging tests. The primary test involved repeated washing cycles in a standard washing machine for the colour bleed, shape deformation and drying time. We used 3D modelling software for rapid prototyping of handle ergonomics to understand weight and balance. The handle’s specific curvature and the tassel’s weight were meticulously calculated and prototyped using 3D modelling to ensure the perfect balance, preventing any tipping or strain on the wrist. We then conducted sessions with a curated group of 20 participants, comprising design professionals, home decor enthusiasts, and daily coffee drinkers.
- Inspiration
- Why must our most-used daily objects be purely utilitarian? Why can’t they possess the sensory richness, the engagement and personality we expect from couture fashion? We envisioned an object that would not just sit on a table, but live on it. The concept was to create a dialogue between two opposing elements, the cool and rigid permanence of porcelain(clay) and the soft, dynamic movement of textiles(sway). An exploration of how a static object can be imbued with a sense of life.
- Project Duration
- The ideation of the mug started in July 2024 and the mug was launched in June 2025. The entire mug is handmade in our Duali Studio in India and the textile artisans who specialise in thread work have finished the tassel work in their workshop. Our production is a multi-stage process where semi-finished porcelain bodies are transported to be paired with tassels. They are then packaged back in the studio and are ready for dispatch.
- Operation Flow
- The function of a mug is to hold a beverage. We transformed its true function from a mundane moment to a sensory experience. The entirely non-adhesive method of attaching the tassels ensures a clean, secure and honest connection between the two materials - porcelain and textile.
- Patents
- This design has an Indian Registration. Indian Registration number is 463008-001.
- Team Members
- Nishi Patel
Devika Mistry
Preeti Nag - Image Credits
- All the images, videos and the sound belongs to our in-house Duali Studio team.
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