Kosuke Takahashi and 224 Porcelain release Corcelain, a series of ceramic cups and vessels with mountable 3D printed feet and screws. Dubbed the world’s first customizable porcelain vessel, each object comes with a screw hole at the bottom, so users can add vibrant legs, handles, lids, and more under every homeware piece. The design is inspired by a term in traditional Japanese ceramics called Kodai, which is the raised circle shape on the bottom of cups and bowls that allows the homeware to be more stable. In Corcerlain, the ceramic cups and vessels make use of Kodai for the 3D printed feet and parts, raising the objects while giving them a more playful yet functional look.

Because the parts are 3D printed, the users can customize the kind of mountable objects for their ceramic cups and vessels. ‘As a maker and 3D printer user myself, it’s hard to make things safe for food or drink,’ Kosuke Takahashi shares with designboom. ‘Standard materials like PLA and ABS aren’t food-safe, and even with safer filaments, the layered surfaces trap food particles. That’s where the idea of a modular vessel came from. You could mix and match ceramic bases with whatever extensions you dream up. That way, we solve the hygiene issue and, at the same time, give anyone the power to customize everyday objects like cups and plates. Corcelain became a reality thanks to a collaboration with 224 Porcelain, which is a traditional kiln in Yoshida – Saga, Japan.’

all images courtesy of Kosuke Takahashi/ootori

corcelain’s ceramic cups come with custom 3D printed parts

There’s a backstory to why the maker Kosuke Takahashi started Corcelain with pottery manufacturer 224 Porcelain. He tells us that traditional craft industries in Japan are facing a crisis, so he wants to bridge this with the use of current technologies like mountable 3D printed parts for the ceramic cups. He worked with a craftsman named Mr. Tsuji, who has been trained in traditional porcelain techniques that have been around for 400 years. ‘The idea of adding a screw hole to the base only worked because of Tsuji-san’s touch, combining technology with delicate, hands-on adjustments from his artisanal intuition,’ Kosuke Takahashi explains.

This is how he conceived the name Corelain for the series of ceramic cups and vessels with 3D printed feet and screws. It is a blend of ‘co-creation’ and ‘porcelain’, a hint at the use of traditional craftsmanship techniques with present technologies. The manufacturer 224 Porcelain steps in here, too, through its use of machines like CNC and 3D printers in their pottery works, which has allowed Kosuke Takahashi to realize his series. For Corcelain, the inventor also draws inspiration from the Japanese word ‘utsuwa’ which translates to ‘vessel’ or ‘container.’ But this word has its roots in the term ‘utsuho’ which means ‘emptiness’, but one that is waiting to be used. At the bottom of the Corcelain’s ceramic cups, it comes through as the kodai, the hollow bottom, allowing the users to bolt in the custom 3D printed feet, screws, and parts they have designed in varying colors.

Kosuke Takahashi and 224 Porcelain release Corcelain, a series of ceramic cups with 3D printed feet

the design is inspired by a term in traditional Japanese ceramics called Kodai

each object comes with a screw hole at the bottom, so users can add vibrant legs

in Corcerlain, the ceramic cups and vessels make use of Kodai for the 3D printed feet and parts

because the parts are 3D printed, the users can customize the mountable objects for the ceramic cups

the series’ name is a portmanteau of ‘co-creation’ and ‘porcelain’

users can also add handles

detailed view of the handle with circular bottom plate

view of the parts’ printing process

project info:

name: Corcelain

design: Kosuke Takahashi | @ootori_t

pottery: 224 Porcelain | @224porcelain

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: matthew burgos | designboom

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The product design company DiFOLD, led by co-founders Petar Zaharinov and Radina Popova, introduces the Origami Cup, building on its previous foldable designs. The reusable cup is designed for versatility, supporting both hot and cold beverages with a 550 ml (18 oz) capacity. Its rigid structure includes a double-isolation lid to prevent spills. A key feature of the product is its triangular folding pattern, allowing it to collapse in three steps for compact storage. Made from durable thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and polypropylene, it offers an alternative to silicone cups, which are less recyclable on a large scale. ‘The inclusion of polypropylene enhances the durability at the creases, vital for products that undergo frequent folding and unfolding,’ explains Zaharinov.

all images by Yanne Golev, courtesy of DiFOLD

the fully recyclable origami cup resists flavor absorption

Weighing 80g (2.8 oz), the Origami Cup is lightweight and portable, and its wide mouth allows for easy cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher. The use of polypropylene strengthens the cup’s creases, ensuring durability through repeated folding and unfolding. The material is food-safe, BPA-free, and designed to resist flavor absorption.

In terms of sustainability, the product reflects DiFOLD’s commitment to reducing environmental impact. The cup is fully recyclable, and the Sofia-based company is exploring its potential within deposit-return systems to promote reuse and reduce single-use waste. Looking forward, the company plans to expand its range of foldable products. This includes potential designs for foldable containers such as jars, canisters, kegs, and barrels, with the aim of creating a wider selection of reusable and recyclable packaging options.

DiFOLD introduces the Origami Cup

supporting both hot and cold beverages with a 550 ml (18 oz) capacity

its rigid structure includes a double-isolation lid to prevent spills

a key feature of the product is its triangular folding pattern

Origami Cup collapses in three steps for compact storage

made from durable thermoplastic elastomers and polypropylene

DiFOLD offers an alternative to silicone cups

weighing 80g (2.8 oz), the Origami Cup is lightweight and portable

its wide mouth allows for easy cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher

the use of polypropylene strengthens the cup’s creases

project info:

name: Origami Cup
designer: DiFOLD | @difold.tech
lead designer: Petar Zaharinov
art director: Robert Shunev 
video production: Electricity Production 
photography: Yanne Golev | @yanne_golev

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

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A stack of portable, eco-friendly coffee cups with lids make up the Accordion Paper Cup, born from the idea of designers at Shenzhen Samore Design&Research Product Planning. It’s not just the paper coffee cups and their lids that stand out. It’s also the vibrant cup holder that can stretch and collapse like an accordion.

In this way, the classic brown color of the portable and eco-friendly paper coffee cups are given a zesty life with its ombre-shaded accordion holder. When it is expanded, the vibrant holder may resemble a luminous fishnet but for cups. In terms of materials, the designers mention that both the paper coffee cups and their holders employ recyclable, renewable and biodegradable materials without detailing the specifics.

all images courtesy of Shenzhen Samore Design&Research Product Planning Co., Ltd, via iF Design

Heat and cold insulation that doubles as a handle

Aside from their lively-looking holder, heat and cold insulation are also applied to the Accordion Paper Cups. Because of these, the container can retain the warmth and coolness of their drinks for a long time. Details about how they’re placed into the cups are yet to be defined by the designers, namely Zhu Hengyao, Zhou Fei, Li Zhe, Zhi Weihang, and Zhang Jie. What they’ve noted is that this insulation can also be used ‘as a handle.’

This may give the impression that the accordion holder might have these properties too, doubling the warmth and coolness retention qualities of the materials. Portable and eco-friendly paper coffee cups are the results of the designers’ use of recyclable, renewable and biodegradable materials. In this situation, they may be able to reduce unnecessary waste while highlighting the concept of environmentally friendly cup design.

view of the eco-friendly paper coffee cup with its accordion holder

Are the Eco-friendly paper coffee cups being developed?

There is no news yet about whether or not the Accordion Paper Cup will hit production or the market. Even its development process is dubbed ‘confidential’, so far. In case they hit the shelves, the target areas of these portable, eco-friendly paper coffee cups with lids are worldwide. The original date of its introduction is up in the air, but the Accordion Paper Cup was awarded the iF Design Award 2024 in Professional Concepts and Packaging Concepts.

the vibrant cup holder can stretch and collapse like an accordion

heat and cold insulations are applied to the Accordion Paper Cups too

when it is expanded, the vibrant holder may resemble a luminous fishnet but for cups

no news yet on the Accordion Paper Cup’s production or development

project info:

name: Accordion Paper Cup

designers: Zhu Hengyao, Zhou Fei, Li Zhe, Zhi Weihang, Zhang  Jie

company: Shenzhen Samore Design&Research Product Planning

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London-based circular system Reuser is targeting the removal of all single waste packaging with its new reusable coffee cup that mixes used vegetable oil and crop waste. The company partnered with product design agency IDC and Brighton-based injection molding firm Naiad Plastics to materialize its vision, becoming the first UK adopters of a new bio-plastic made from renewable feedstock.

‘Reuser stands apart from your average off-the-shelf reusable cup, implementing an end-to-end system that systemically tackles the impact of food and drink packaging at source, removing the customer lead approach that has fallen short of providing a net zero alternative,’ explains the company. 

all images courtesy of IDC

The narrative that recyclable materials and the elimination of single-use plastic is sufficient in catering and hospitality has long since expired. An estimated 500,000 cups litter the UK every day, often in the form of mixed material waste preventing the ability to recycle. In light of this, the Reuser team decided to actively prevent over 30,000 single-use cups and containers from entering landfill through partnering London sites.

Partnering sites avoid the distribution and demand for disposable cups and packaging and facilitate the uptake of a ‘reusable’ approach instead. The sites also act as drop-off locations that will clean cups and lids before putting them back into circulation. After a cup eventually reaches the end of its life, mechanical and chemical recycling ensures it can re-enter the production process from the beginning in the form of feedstock. 

mixing vegetable oil and crop waste to create a new bio-plastic

using ‘bornewables’ bio-pp to create circular-based plastic 

That said, UK-based agency IDC assisted in designing and developing the cup lids, addressing challenges with core functionality, durability, mass production, and reducing unit cost. In addition, through sister company Naiad Plastics, IDC became the first agency to use the ‘Bornewables’ Bio-PP, which starts its life as a crop bi-product, algae, or used vegetable oil, before being refined into pellets for injection molding.

It is often easy to lose accountability through manufacturing and mass production, as each stage looks to pass on the impact they create. But through the Borealis circular network and the ability to retain precious carbon in the system, it is now possible to ensure all plastic is traceable to the point of origin and fully ISCC PLUS certified. 

the Reuser cup is the first of its kind in the UK

Andrew Matthews, founder of Reuser, states: ‘In 2021, I chose to dedicate my life towards a vision and a mission that I am truly passionate about – eliminating single-use waste and improving our environment. To do this, I founded Reuser – a company whose mission is to end single-use takeaway packaging waste via a digitally enabled reusable packaging service. I believe we must transition away from our single-use culture to a reusable culture – and I believe technology can help us get there.’

Reuser branding design

Reuser CAD modelling

designing the product

project info:

name: Reuser – Circular Coffee Cup
design: IDC – Felix Reid, Luke Williams, Scott Leslie

injection molding: Naiad Plastics

client: Reuser

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom

The post IDC designs UK’s first reusable coffee cup made from vegetable oil appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

SüpKüp by Nobot Labs is the first reusable traveler mug that preserves the heat and flavor of hot beverages for over 50% longer, without requiring liquid transfer or cleaning between uses. The traveler is made with the goal of replacing paper coffee sleeves to reduce unnecessary paper waste, while delivering an elegant, efficient design. Built from durable polycarbonate, SüpKüp comes equipped with a hands-free paper cup selector, to snugly hold multiple sized to-go paper cups from some of the most popular coffeehouses, including Starbucks.

all images courtesy of the author

SüpKüp keeps hot drinks heated for over 50% longer

Engineered with precision by designers Quinton Casburn and Sean Tipton of the Texas-based design firm Nobot Labs, the reusable traveler mug is compatible with many popular coffeehouses’ medium and large hot to-go cups, including Starbucks’ venti and grande, nestling the paper cups and hot beverages inside. With the insertion of a removable paper cup, an efficient airtight seal is created, and forming a double-walled, air insulated chamber the SüpKüp can retain the heat of a hot drink for over 50% longer than a paper cup in open air. The mug is also equipped with an innovative double helix screw ejector that can remove the used paper cup, keeping both hands and the SüpKüp clean. By twisting the rotating base, the paper cup can be ejected directly into a recycling bin when no longer needed. As no coffee comes into contact with the surface of the SüpKüp, it remains clean and ready for the next use.

Each SüpKüp comes integrated with a custom designed, embedded mount that can hold an Apple AirTag and an included SüpPük. The customizable, collectible Püks can be engraved to the request of user to personalize their cup, and they can even design their own.

the reusable traveler mug is built from durable polycarbonate

SüpKüp is a product of Nobot Labs, designed by Sean Tipton and Quinton Casburn, and is patent pending, tested, and ready for production. The product will be launching with a limited edition all-clear design along with an initial price of $39 for Kickstarter crowdfunding backers. After launch, black, white and green color variations will be available for purchase, with an estimated delivery of early 2023.

after crowdfunding, it will be available to purchase in black, white and green color variations

with the insertion of a removable paper cup, an airtight seal is created

a double helix screw ejector can remove the used paper cup, keeping both hands and the mug clean

the traveler aims to replace paper coffee sleeves to reduce unnecessary paper waste

the face is embedded with a mount that can hold an Apple AirTag and an included customizable SüpPük

SüpKüp is compatible with many popular coffeehouses’ medium and large hot to-go cups, including Starbucks

SüpKüp preserves the heat and flavor of hot beverages for over 50% longer

project info:

name: SüpKüp
designer: Nobot Labs

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions’ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom

The post the first no mess traveler mug with a built-in paper cup ejector heats coffee for 50% longer appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Kaffeeform unveils new travel mugs

Three years after its successful launch, the Kaffeeform leaves the range to make space for not one, but two new coffee mug versions: the Weducer Cup Essential and the Weducer Cup Refined. The first one is designed as a ‘caffeine-free’ cup made of recycled wood fibers, that still maintains the characteristics of the original cup. The second one is a slightly taller, double-wall mug that consists of the company’s iconic recycled coffee ground material, while the colorful inner layer and the drinking lid are made from the same innovative wood-fiber composition used in Weducer Cup Essential. 

the Weducer Cup Essential (300ml/10oz) in ‘cayenne’

all images courtesy of Kaffeeform

the problem with single-use paper cups 

‘The problem with single-use paper cups is serious and by now we’re all aware of their huge environmental impact, hopefully’, shares the team at Kaffeeform. In Germany, around 320,000 paper cups are used every hour, making almost three billion cups a year — in Berlin alone, around 460,000 pieces are thrown out every day. What’s more, paper-making is a pretty environmentally unfriendly process: single-use paper cups are rarely made with recycled fibers, which means that more pulpwood forests get cut down. Also, most disposable cups have a plastic lining and lid that come from fossil fuels.

Kaffeeform’s new Weducer Cups invite users to take a step towards a less wasteful lifestyle by replacing single-use cups that are destined for the trash. They also stand for the positive social change that a more environmentally friendly consumer behavior promotes. ‘They’re good for the environment, and good for you too.’ the company notes.

the newest Weducer Cup Refined is available in three color combinations: coffee-cayenne, coffee-cardamom, and coffee-nutmeg

weducar cup essential and weducer cup refined 

The Weducer Cup Essential (300ml/10oz) retains the handy size and the timeless, sleek design of the original with its pleasingly grippy matte, marble-inspired exterior, but is made ‘caffeine-free’ from a bio-based material composition with recycled wood fibers. It is available in three different colors: ‘nutmeg’, ‘cayenne’ and ‘cardamom’.

The premium version, the newest Weducer Cup Refined, is slightly taller in size (350ml/12oz), double-walled for improved heat retention, and more sophisticated: the outer darker shell consists of Kaffeeform iconic material with recycled coffee grounds in the classic ‘coffee’ hue, while the colorful inner layer and the drinking lid are made from the same innovative wood-fiber composition used for the smaller cup.

natural scents and colors

The new Kaffeeform tumblers encourage users to spend time in the open air and enjoy moments of relaxation, joy, and community — be it at home, on the way to your favorite café or to the office, in the park just around the block, on the train or on a trip. Both the ‘caffeine-free’ Weducer Cup Essential and the premium version Refined with its inner layer made with recycled wood fibers have no coffee aroma; instead, they come with a subtle, natural wood scent and are thus ideal for any hot and cold drinks beyond coffee, including tea, smoothies, juice, or even small snacks like biscuits, berries, and nuts.

The Weducer Cup Essential is available in three new hues inspired by nature – ‘cardamom’ (khaki), ‘nutmeg’ (beige) and ‘cayenne’ (terracotta) –, while the Weducer Cup Refined sports the color combination of the two materials it is made from: ‘coffee/cardamom’, ‘coffee/nutmeg’, and ‘coffee/cayenne’.

the Weducer Cup Refined (350ml/12oz) in ‘coffee-nutmeg’

the newest Weducer Cup Refined (350ml/12oz) combines two game-changing material compositions using recycled coffee grounds and recycled beechwood fibers

the Weducer Cup Essential is available in three beautiful colors inspired by nature: cardamom, nutmeg, and cayenne

the Weducer Cup Essential (300ml/10oz) in ‘cardamom’

project info:

name: Weducer Cup Essential & Weducer Cup Refined
company: Kaffeeform

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom

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it’s said that our sense of taste is largely influenced by smell and that if you want to truly savor the aroma and taste of coffee, you shouldn’t put a lid on your cup. dubbed stacking paper lid and designed by fumie shibata, this lid is envisioned primarily to prevent spillage when carrying coffee, on the assumption that you will remove the lid when you drink the coffee in order to savor its aroma. for those who prefer to drink with the lid on, there’s another version with a spout. this one has been designed to allow you to detect subtleties of flavor and the feel of coffee on your tongue. but still, it’s recommended taking off the lid when it’s not required.

the stacking paper lid is being tested at different events in tokyo’s kanda area and it has already been implemented in dean & deluca take-away coffee cups. the restaurant, which used to use plastic lids, says that they worried about the fact that users had to separate the pieces when throwing them away, increasing the amount of garbage that can’t be recycled. ‘since the cup and the lid are made of the same material, there is no need to separate them,’ comments dean & deluca. ‘in addition, the lid fits snugly and is easy to carry.’

to address the waste issue and take a first step towards resolving it, specialist paper merchant takeo, paper cup manufacturer dixie japan, and glitch coffee & roasters in the jimbocho district of tokyo, where it serves as a leader of the third wave coffee scene, joined forces to create a solution based on fumie shibata’s work through a natural, organic process of consultation and discussion between manufacturing and service sectors. ‘we realize that the stacking paper lid is not the only answer for reducing environmental impact. we believe that the real answer to protecting the environment is for people throughout the world to use this initiative as an inspiration for coming up with and implementing the next idea.’

project info:

name: stacking paper lid

designer: fumie shibata

The post this take-out cup lid by fumie shibata replaces the plastic one with paper appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

gourds have traditionally been used by ancestors as receptacles like cups for centuries. they are fast-growing plants that bear robust fruit each season. once dried, the gourds develop a robust outer skin and their fibrous inner flesh becomes watertight. crème explored this centuries-old craft, growing the gourds in custom-designed 3D-printed moulds. they eventually developed a stackable design mimicking the silhouette of a classic faceted glass.

the studio points out that the manufacturing of a typical paper-based coffee cup, which is typically lined with unsustainable plastic polyethylene, produces 0.24 lbs (over 100 grams) of carbon dioxide. only 0.25% is estimated to be recycled after disposal, whereas the HyO-cup offers a completely biodegradable alternative.

the design is one of 12 entries in the nextgen cup challenge, a competition to redesign the fiber to-go cup and create a widely recyclable and/or compostable alternative. starbucks invested $10M to launch the challenge in partnership with the closed loop partners and the consortium which icnludes mcdonald’s, the coca-cola company, nestlé and wendy’s.

the 12 teams will be awarded a portion of up to $1 million in funding, and up to six of them will have the chance to develop their designs. they will receive ongoing support to scale up their models and prepare for production and distribution at a global scale, meaning the 250 billion fiber to-go cups that starbucks uses annually could transform right before our eyes.

The post could this be the new starbucks coffee cup? appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

with experimental exploration at its core, the foundry allows tinkah’s artists, designers, writers, creatives the dedicated environment to defy the monotony of commercial design. organically emerging from dubai, their found creative practice draws inspiration from its immediate environment. for this particular design of a sand coffee cup, the company looked at the most abundant and unused natural resource in the UAE — the team set out with the aim to utilize sand into a reproducible product.

with the focus on a scalable manufacturing process, the designers proceeded to create a composite material that combines the visual, tactile and heat insulative properties of sand with the castability of slip ceramic. iron, calcium, silica, aluminum and magnesium are just a few of the elements found in desert sand, each sample varied in composition.

project info:

designers: the foundry

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: maria erman | designboom

The post the foundry designs a coffee cup made of sand appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

all images courtesy of kaffeeform

lechner creates the coffee cups by first collecting the leftovers from local cafes in berlin. he then combines them with natural glues and particles of wood from sustainable sources to produce a liquid that can be injection moulded to create the reusable cups.

‘as the global coffee consumption is steadily growing, the coffee grounds that are basically waste, will be available en masse‘, lechner says. ‘kaffeeform uses this wasted ressources, to creative a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to products based on mineral oils.’

once the final shape is set, the material is dish washer friendly and long-lasting, and can be used over and over again. as well as a series of small espresso cups featuring a handle on the side and a matching curved saucer, kaffeeform has also create cappuccino cups and its latest – a take-away styled cup. the cups are available to buy from the kaffeeform website, and can be purchased as individual units, or in sets of 4, 6 and 8. 

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