Harmonía

Project Intent: Design a drinkware set for the production and consumption of horchata for the guests of a bed & breakfast in the year 1900

Project Duration: 5 Weeks

The Subject: Horchata, a cinnamon rice-milk iced beverage popularized in Mexico

The Setting: A Bed & Breakfast in the year 1900

1

Soaking in flavor. Rice, cinnamon, and water are cooled together for hours.

2

Blending the mixture. Cinnamon rice water mixture is ground together.

3

Exploring the Process

Straining the chunks. Blended mixture is strained through a sieve.

4

Mixing in sweetness. Sugar and vanilla are mixed in to the strained mixture.

5

Making it milky. Add sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk.

6

Serving it up. Horchata is served over ice with cinnamon garnish

Items needed to make horchata in 1900:

Bowl/mortar
Pestle
Cheesecloth
Pitcher
Cup

This accounts for the lack of blenders and relies on the availability of ice in the year 1900.

Diving Into Sketching

Exploring forms for different pieces, considering how pieces will be identified as a set, playing with ergonomic interactions

Adjusting curvatures, mimicking profiles

Second opinion on usability of items

Unifying set with consistent angles

Moving Into 3D

Finding comfortable grip diameters

Adjusting the interactive fit of parts, straightening curvature of pitcher handle, regulating flower motif

Final Adjustments

Considering Manufacturing Processes

Metal portions would be stamp molded. Ceramic portions would be slip cast and then glazed appropriately. Pitcher’s handle attachment is detailed below.

Lip: gentle radius and glaze are soft to sip from

Spout: angle avoids dripping and width controls pour

Taper: angle suits early modernist era and guides family of form

Radius: provides clean curvature, supports nesting, lends to family of form

Foot: dimensions match consistently between pieces

Final Form Analysis

Grips: comfortable diameters on both pestle and cup for using and holding

Ceramic: connects to Mexican heritage

Motif: floral design identifies pieces as a set

Screws: attach ceramic handle to metal body

Nesting: makes set easy to hold and carry, negates need for tray

Colorways

Trying different bright colors from Mexican pottery for the accent flowers

Attachment Method

Screws - holds handle to body of pitcher

Rubber Gasket - seals joint between screw and body of pitcher

Inconel Insert - this threaded metal insert would be fired with the ceramic handle and allows for the secure attachment of parts