Clay and Sway by Duali Àwo Ìmumi by Duali Studio

Clay and Sway by Duali Àwo Ìmumi by Duali Studio is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ohun-èlò Ìdáná, Ohun-èlò Oúnjẹ, Ohun Mímu àti Ohun Ìṣe Oúnjẹ Competition Category.

IdẹOhun-èlò Ìdáná· 2026

Clay and Sway by Duali Àwo Ìmumi

by Duali Studio

Client: Duali Studio

Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ohun-èlò Ìdáná Category

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Colors

The Design

About Clay and Sway by Duali Àwo Ìmumi

Èròngbà Duali pẹ̀lú àwo ìmumi Clay and Sway ni láti dá ìjíròrò sílẹ̀ láàrin àwọn èròjà méjì tí ó tako ara wọn ṣùgbọ́n tí wọ́n ń bára wọn mu, ìtutù, líle àti ìdúrósinsin ti pọ́sẹ́lì (amọ̀) pẹ̀lú ìmúlẹ́rọ̀, ìṣíra oníyíyí ti àwọn wúrà (ìjẹ́). Ìpèníjà náà ni láti ṣe àpẹẹrẹ ohun kan tí kì yóò kàn jókòó lórí tábìlì ṣùgbọ́n tí yóò máa wà láàyè lórí rẹ̀. Ìwádìí lórí bí a ṣe lè fi ìmọ̀lára ìwàláàyè kún ohun tí ó dúró jẹ́ẹ́. Àpẹẹrẹ ìnk tí a fi ọwọ́ fọ́n sórí àwo ìmumi náà ṣe ìdánilójú pé kò sí àwo ìmumi méjì tí wọ́n dàbí ara wọn rárá. Lẹ́yìn náà, a fi ọwọ́ so àwọn wúrà náà mọ́ àwọn ihò tí a lu láti ṣe ìdánilójú ìsopọ̀ mímọ́ àti òtítọ́ láàrin àwọn èròjà méjì náà.

The Recognition

About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award

Clay and Sway by Duali Àwo Ìmumi jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Clay and Sway by Duali Àwo Ìmumi yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Clay and Sway by Duali Àwo Ìmumi ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.

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.