Wiggle Mugs

In response to the prompt, “Create the drinking vessel that you’ve always wanted to drink out of”, I designed this pair of mugs to draw users in with their playful, friendly forms. Both mugs of the pair are cast from a single engineered mold. Slipcast ceramic, glaze.

Process

Through analyzing my own drinking experiences, I realized that emotional connection through form draws me to certain vessels. I am drawn to drinking vessels, most often mugs, that are round and organic, as these forms give them a friendly, playful appearance. With this in mind, I began sketching. Below are sketches created after honing in on my design direction.

I went on to create quick sketch models with stoneware. While creating the sketch models, I discovered that the same form could result in two distinct designs, by flipping it upside down. I realized that by designing the mug’s opening and foot to be similar, each could function as the other, and that I could engineer the mold to cast both designs.

I then sculpted a refined positive and used it to create the mold. In order to cast both mugs from the mold, I created two ‘foot’ pieces. Only one would be used in the mold at a time, depending on which mug I was casting, leaving the other to function as the gate.