Core77

by **Cameron** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 4:47 pm

In my studio class, we are currently designing tea kettles/pots. The focus of this assignment is using tropes (figures of speech like antithesis, personification, etc.) to give direction to a story-driven, emotional design.

After the initial group brainstorming (thinking of tea-related tropes), I selected the metaphor of the tea leaf as my trope.

The story:

* The translucent glass tea kettle mimicking the extracts steeping out the tea leaf
* Adding color to the tea kettle experience (it already has strong audio and aroma)
* The coming convergence of technology and nature.

I would essentially like some feedback on the concept (from a tea enthusiast's point of view) and also feedback on the form (from a designer's point of view).

The materials would be stove-safe glass, & an embedded metal (or silicone?)frame extending into the handle. I don't know if I want the metal to be veins in the leaf or if I want to make it more of a single complex surface with an organic pattern of holes cut in it (inspiration from Chinese architecture).

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! I'm presenting in a week :wink:

by **Cameron** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 4:55 pm

Technical difficulties - my form ideation sketches will be up in two hours or so...

by **Mr-914** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:50 pm

I like the form idea. I would need to see more to give you any kind of useful feedback. Also, don't stick to one idea. Get another sheet out and do a completely different concept (and repeat 9 times).

by yo » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:12 pm

I like the idea. Try abstracting it to the extreme.... also do what 914 said!

by **Cameron** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:14 pm

Okay, my form ideation page is up now. Feel free to share your favorite forms so far. I agree that I haven't abstracted it enough yet, it's a lot tougher than I thought it would be. At the moment, my favorite is the arrow-shaped one in the bottom left. I'll probably pick 3 and do an hour or two more sketching from those 3 ideas, and then decide on the final to take into Alias...

Thanks for the feedback Yo and Mr. 914.

by **bennybtl** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:09 am

First, nice ideation sketches. They don't read so well in the thumbnail, but once viewed full size, they pop a bit more. I agree with what has already been said to try and abstract the tea leaf form you are working from.

I really like see-through glass tea pots (the bodum tea pots always appealed to me) The color tea can be very beautiful, and there' no need to obscure it, "decorate it".

Is this a tea pot, a kettle or both? One doesn't steep in a kettle, as kettles are only used for boiling water (which is then poured into a tea pot) I think you're going for a hybrid dual purpose? Boil the water, then add a tea basket? I'm not convinced this is ideal for you're delicate glass leaf form.

I think you are going in the right direction with the more faceted tea leaf on the lower left. I'd encourage you to explore some natural materials instead of the metal/silicone, as you say "The coming convergence of technology and nature" (bamboo, hemp, stone, etc). Possibly a sturdy stoneware tea kettle bottom, and a delicate glass top??

I'd suggest doing story boards of your developed concepts before jumping to CAD, (or make rough foam-core mock-ups and take photos while you act out the process of making tea with your tea pot) as you may learn something.

by **Cameron** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:06 am

It is intended to double as the kettle and the pot. From what I know (could be wrong) it's okay to put certain glass on a stove...

The material choice was due to the Tea-Off competition constraints. I agree with your suggestion though, I might abandon contest hopes in order to have a stronger concept. I still like the translucency of the glass, though. Thanks Benny!

by **The_Boogey_Man** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:56 am

I might abandon contest hopes in order to have a stronger concept.

This is the easy way out...

by **bennybtl** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:15 pm

camzaman wrote:It is intended to double as the kettle and the pot. From what I know (could be wrong) it's okay to put certain glass on a stove...

No you're right, glass cookware is common, but it tends to be visually heavy, unlike your leaf concept. Just wanted to encourage you to clarify.

camzaman wrote:I might abandon contest hopes in order to have a stronger concept.

I don't understand? Do you mean, by making it more viable, it'll be less likely to win? I would think you could do both...

by **Cameron** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:24 pm

Well I don't agree with their narrow-minded approach, especially for a design contest, but the rules say that the main materials can only be metal, glass, or ceramic.

by **bennybtl** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:34 pm

from the rules

A design for a tea kettle that: demonstrates innovative problem solving using glass, metal or ceramic as the primary material; builds on the heritage of tea kettles; and proposes fresh ideas for their form and function.

glass, metal or ceramic as primary material.

I'd say as long as 51% of your design is glass, metal or ceramic, you're good! :wink:

by **peter89** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:54 pm

Neat idea with the tea leaf, i agree with previous posts, looks like you've got 20 sketches of the same idea, only slightly modified.

Come up with 40 completely different ideas, pick a chunk you like, and then start modifying and refining those maybe on a slightly larger scale/

Sometimes you sketch something you like within the first page or two, and then you cant get your mind of that idea, its rough.

by **Cameron** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:29 pm

Do you mean 40 different ideas with the tea leaf as one? or 40 different tea leaf ideas? Because I already went through the 40 different idea phase before deciding on the tea leaf (I would continue but I have to present on Monday). After going back and sketching different ideas, I actually came up with something I like more. It's a piece of sheet metal with glass on top. Here are some quickie solidworks screenshots of where I am now. The glass body is the construction lines you see. The infuser will also be rhombus-shaped like a leaf. I haven't decided if the lid will be sheet metal again, or glass...