2014 Activating the Archive

This course introduces industrial design students to a working
relationship with a client using a combination of seminar and
workshop formats, framed by the tenants of the Vignelli design
philosophy and molded by the brief set with CMoG.

The first half of each session presents aspects of the history, theory and the practice of product design as it relates to the CMoG project agenda. Students will design and develop a product suitable for glass production in consideration of the following context: Drinking vessel. Students will utilize glass as a primary material to explore this condition. Guest lecturers and critics will engage at regular intervals throughout the course to share their insights.

The goal of the course is to inspire innovation in product development with regard to the typology in question, balanced by real-world parameters. Students will be guided through the Vignelli Archives and be exposed to physical evidence of design process to frame this investigation. In addition, The Vignelli’s recent book The Vignelli
Cannon will serve as a primary tool for framing their design
decision-making in concert with the CMoG agenda.

This course will function in part as a competition. CMoG will select
exemplary student works from the group to prototype in GlassLab
fashion at CMoG with the help of the student(s) selected.

Photography: Elizabeth Lamark

White Wine Glass

Liana Beer



A glass designed to keep the user’s hand away from the bowl of the glass to prevent body heat from transferring to the white wine, which is intended to be chilled. A hollow lower region creates a barrier while being held by the user, as well as creating an illusion of suspension for the white wine. The narrow design with a slight, inward curve enables the gathering and focusing of aromas.

Kinetic Whiskey Glass

Timothy Bromm



The Kinetic Whiskey Glass accentuates the importance of sound and motion experienced during the act of drinking whiskey. A glass ball is housed within an enclosed ‘floating’ chamber. In the process of swirling the ball around the base, the whiskey can be synchronized, introducing elements of skill and play into the drinking experience.

The Empire Glass

Tim Copeland



The gestalt of the Empire Glass is the concept of “cuisine de terroir” as it is informed by the heritage of the spirit, Applejack and the upstate New York history of apple growing. The Empire Glass respects the rituals of experiencing fine Cognac and aims to bring Applejack, a powerfully American spirit, into that canon.

Fill to Line, Cappuccino Cup

Patricio Corvalan



This cappuccino vessel called “Fill to Line” provides a measure of ideal ingredient proportions to the user. This glass has three instructional dashed lines that tell the user where they need to stop when adding each ingredient. The cup will assist with preparing cappuccinos at home, as well as training new baristas.

The Champagne Popsicle

Guillermo Fok



The attributes that characterize the experience of Champagne were distilled and reinvented to enrich this unique tradition. The Champagne Popsicle is a daring new way to enjoy the decadence and eccentricity of Champagne. The form pays homage to the delicacy of a flute, juxtaposed with a solid base reminiscent of a Champagne seau.

Perch

Seyed Behrad Ghodsi



Café Latte is a type of drink that is enjoyed slowly. The Perch is designed to create more ergonomic features between the user and the product throughout the experience.

Tea Ripple

Qunxi Huang



The Tea Ripple is a glass teacup design showing the contrast between movement and stillness. It includes a glass cup and a coaster. The wave forms on the cup’s surface show beautiful movement and also make it comfortable for users to hold even when the tea is very hot.

Turkish Coffee Cup

Aisha Iskanerani



This design enhances the tradition of using the coffee grounds at the bottom of the cup to tell the user’s fortune. The transparency of the glass vessel and it’s crystal ball like form make this functionally and emotionally rich.

Couples Glasses

Ratchanon Keawmanee



Designed as a set for sharing romantic times between lovers, the couples glasses enhance intimate moments between two people.

One Into Two

Yolegmma Marquez



Inspired by the purity of the geometric shapes represented in Vignelli’s works, the “One into two” espresso coffee cup shows that the proportions of an accurate espresso can be represented in physical forms. The minimalist design and the stackable function embody the simplicity and pureness of a cup of espresso.

Floating Martini

Sherry Jiekun Qian



The Floating Martini glass design utilizes the transparency of glass to celebrate the iconic form of the traditional martini by floating it in the air. The space between the drink and the hand helps to keep the temperature cool. Also, the cylinder shape is good for holding to avoid spilling.

Magnifier Shot Glass

Zhuo Wang



This magnifier shot glass is designed to be a souvenir for Corning Museum of Glass. Shot glass is a common souvenir besides used for drinking shot, and this concept is try to combine the art with technology because Corning is the leader of glass industry with a lot of high-tech on glass, also I want to bring some function to the shot glass instead of just design a souvenir for people to collect.

Americano

Kunzhao Wu



This is Americano-style coffee cup that is made of glass. Its unique form has been specially designed for the Americano coffee experience. The indent on the side of the glass indicates the proper measurement of water before adding the espresso. It also provides an ergonomic location for one’s index finger to create a comfortable grip.