Bronze Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design · 2024
Outotsu Glass and Coaster
- A' Design Award 2024 Bronze Winner in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design
- Awarded April 15, 2024
- CLIENT: U&
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 27,592
- Verification code C1A465CF2F · Verify this award
About Outotsu Glass and Coaster
Outotsu means unevenness in Japanese. Stacking is now possible with the concave part of the glass and the convex part of the coaster. The coaster absorbs water droplets that form on the glass. It also has excellent deodorizing and antibacterial properties. The protrusions on the bottom of the glass create convection when you pour a drink into it, drawing in air that enhances the aroma and balances the flavor of the drink. There is no need to mix with a stirrer, and the beer will foam better. Another convenient feature is that both can be stacked for storage.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The coaster absorbs drops of water from the condensation on the glass. The coaster also has excellent deodorant and antibacterial properties, and the protrusion on the bottom of the glass creates convection when the drink is poured, bringing the air in to enhance the aroma of the drink and balance the taste. There is no need to mix with a muddler, and the beer foams better. Both can be stacked separately for easy storage and are effective at deodorizing and preventing mold in cupboards.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Size
W82 D82 H135 300ml
Glass
W82 D82 H95
Coaster
W78 D78 H70
Material
Glass
Maguma ceramic
Color
Glass
Clear Carbon
Coaster
White Gray - Tags
- glass coaster tableware
- Production Technology
- The raw material for the coaster, Shirasu (magma ceramic), is collected from the Shirasu Plateau, which emerged from an eruption 25,000 years ago. Shirasu is a safe natural material with excellent water absorption, deodorizing, and antibacterial properties. This material is only found in Japan, and since it does not need to be crushed or baked at high temperatures, it is an environmentally friendly material that does not place any burden on the global environment.
- Design Challenge
- It is extremely difficult to make a glass so that the protrusion of the coaster and the concavity of the glass fit together perfectly, but after researching the mold, the finish was completed using the skills of craftsmen.
We have conducted repeated experiments and research to be able to instantly supply water droplets from the coaster. In addition, all natural materials are used, making safe and luxurious use of high-performance materials. - Project Duration
- It was announced at the Tokyo International Gift Show in February 2023, and exhibited at the International Furniture Fair Tokyo in March and Interior Lifestyle Tokyo in June.
- Operation Flow
- Outotsu means unevenness in Japanese. By making the shape conical, we have made it possible to insert it without worrying about its orientation. In addition, the protrusion at the bottom of the glass has the function of rotating and mixing like a tornado just by pouring a drink. By using Shirasu, a natural material unique to Japan, the coaster absorbs moisture from drops and the air, and also acts as an air cleaner to deodorize the room. It is also antibacterial and expensive, so it is hygienic and safe to put in your mouth, making it a very rare material that is good for the environment.
- Research
- Magma ceramic is a safe natural material with excellent water absorbency, deodorizing, and antibacterial properties. The raw material is acquired from the Shirasu Plateau, which emerged from Kagoshima Prefecture to southern Miyazaki Prefecture as a result of an eruption 25,000 years ago. Unlike diatom earth, it is an eco-friendly material that does not need to be crushed or baked at high temperatures, thus placing no burden on the global environment.
- Inspiration
- When making alcohol and soda, coffee and milk, etc. I thought about it because it was troublesome to mix with a muddler. I also didn't want the table to get wet from the condensation on the glass. I also designed a coaster that sticks to the bottom of the glass. The stem glass-like design that does not look like a coaster at first glance is very unique. An easy-to-use product has been completed.
Colors of Outotsu Glass and Coaster
Grand Interview about Outotsu Glass and Coaster
Magma ceramic was used as a building material only for walls. I wondered if there was a way to substitute the functions of natural materials such as water supply, humidity control, deodorization, and antibacterial properties, and I came up with the idea of a coaster. It has been reborn as a coaster that does not need to be washed and does not grow mold.
It was a hassle to use a stirrer when mixing liqueur with water, juice, etc. Sometimes I mix it with my fingers, but it's not hygienic. So I thought it would be convenient to have a glass that doesn't require mixing. After repeated research, we found the best structure.
The advantage is that it can be stored in a small size not only at home but also in restaurants. The stacking structure of both glasses and coasters makes them easier to use and more cost-effective in terms of logistics.
In addition to mixing, we conducted numerous tests to find out how to introduce air, how to foam beer, and how to bring out the aroma. We pursued the pouring speed, height, and average value, and as a result, we selected the volume, angle, and size of the glass.
If you use resin or metal in this work, the taste will change. Therefore, it must be glass. Craftsmanship is required to achieve this with glass. The craftsmen were impressed by the designer's policies and succeeded in creating a difficult structure.
It is difficult to harden whitebait, so we asked for help from foundry and other industries. It was a manufacturing method that the craftsmen had never experienced before, but it has now been improved so that even people with disabilities can make it, and it is also contributing to society. Based on the recipe, Shirasu collected data on various results such as water absorption rate and strength, and researched the best combination.
Concave and convex surfaces must be properly connected to each other for this to work. First, we will join the coaster and glass, then the glasses, and then the coasters. This started with a model, and the design was finalized through repeated prototyping and lowering the defective rate. But don't disturb convection. The current design was created after a series of mind-boggling experiments.
In Asia, which is hot and humid, the proliferation of bacteria due to humidity becomes a dietary issue. Also, if the dishes get smelly, the food won't taste as good. In order to solve these two issues, we focused on magma ceramic (shirasu).
The problem was my own experience and the fact that many people don't use muddlers. Some people mix with chopsticks, some use their fingers, and some don't. None of this is a solution. If you don't have to mix it up, it's the best solution.
Made from 100% natural materials, Outotsu is a renewable product. It is very important that it does not have a negative impact on the earth. Additionally, functional products contribute to improving the quality of life. I think this will have a huge impact on the design industry in the future.