Dam Da Ensemble Ceramic by Ann Dinh is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award de Fèrre in Ustensilis de Cosina Competition Category.

FèrreUstensilis de Cosina· 2024

Dam Da Ensemble Ceramic

by Ann Dinh

Client: Ann T. Dinh

A' Design Award de Fèrre Winner in Ustensilis de Cosina Category

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Colors

The Design

About Dam Da Ensemble Ceramic

Dempuèi de millenaris, las gents an creat de ceramica, e l'impression 3D apòrta una renaissença. Dam Da es un ensemble ceramic semi-artesanal que comunica a travèrs un disseny integrat, detalhant los ingredients e las mesuras aproximativas, e que fai tanben de recipient de servir. Sa estructura generala pòt s'adaptar a diferentas variacions d'una recèpta, a diferents plats, dins diferentas culturas. Dam Da captura l'esséncia d'una forma d'art intemporala en abrassant las possibilitats de l'avenir.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Fèrre

Dam Da Ensemble Ceramic a ganhat la distincion A' Design Award de Fèrre, una reconeissença prestigiosa acordada a de bons designs que respondon a las exigéncias professionalas e industrialas esperadas de creacions plan concebudas. Los ganhaires del Fèrre demòstran una granda abilitat, una nauta especializacion, una comprenedura d'expèrt e la capacitat creativa de lors creators. S'espèra que Dam Da Ensemble Ceramic siá una creacion fòrça considerada, admirada e estimada, practica e innovanta. Aqueste design ganhaire de la distincion A' Design Award de Fèrre integra las melhoras practicas del sector e a de caracteristicas tecnicas competentas ligadas a un saber-far e a un talent. Per son rigor, Dam Da Ensemble Ceramic merita lo respècte e es destinat a aportar de melhoraments a la qualitat de la vida que ajudan a far del mond un luòc melhor.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: For millennia, people have created ceramics, and 3D printing is ushering in a renaissance. Dam Da is a semi-handcrafted ceramic set that communicates through embedded design, detailing ingredients and approximate measurements, doubling as a serving vessel. Its overall framework can adapt to different variations of a recipe, to different dishes, in different cultures. Dam Da captures the essence of a timeless art form embracing the possibilities of the future.
Research: For many Asian Americans, there is a struggle of belonging. “Go back to your home country” has been spat at, yet the United States is the only country they know and have. Food is a common link to their parent’s homeland, a cultural anchor that families can bond over. However, as their parent’s generation becomes older, will that bond hold true?

“Am I even Korean anymore if there’s no one left in my life to call and ask which brand of seaweed we used to buy?”
-Michelle Zauner, lead vocalist and songwriter of the alternative pop band Japanese Breakfast

How might we establish a method of connecting to food heritage that can be passed down through the generations?

Dam Da is a nesting set that provides a unit of measurement and serving. This set is particular to a family chicken pho recipe. However, the intended design can easily be adapted to different chicken pho recipes and other pho types, such as beef. Dam Da breaks with imperial and metric standards, defining “a little bit of this”.

Dam Da is coded between broth preparation, bowl preparation, and serving, by the color. The product is a reaction to the informal nature of cooking found in immigrant communities and how information could be documented in some way.

As the piece ages, the crackle glaze is marked by wear and provides a subtle indication of the amount. In addition, each piece has a graphic representation of what ingredient coordinates. The underside also has Vietnamese and English labeling.

“If food doesn’t have context and story, it just doesn’t taste that good.”
-Andrea Nguyen, Vietnamese-born, American food writer
Inspiration: Dam Da is designed for immigrant children as a culinary bridge to heritage. Family recipes, often unwritten and lost in translation, find a place in this ceramic set. Embracing the flexibility of home cooking allows approximations, encouraging personalization. While it can't replicate grandma's touch, it becomes a cherished heirloom, symbolizing resilience for those who started anew with little in a new country.