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
1
Soaking in flavor. Rice, cinnamon, and water are cooled together for several hours.
Adjusting curvatures, mimicking profiles
Second opinion on usability of items
Adjusting the interactive fit of parts, straightening curvature of pitcher handle, regulating flower motif
The Setting: A Bed & Breakfast 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
2
Blending the mixture. Cinnamon rice water mixture is ground together.
Moving Into 3D
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. Sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk are added.
Final Adjustments
Unifying set with consistent angles
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.
Finding comfortable grip diameters
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.
Final Prototype And Rendering Images
Attachment Method
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
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
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
