Gold Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design · 2021
Island Glass
by Dohwa
- A' Design Award 2021 Gold Winner in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Dohwa
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 69,869
- Verification code 979EB7957C · Verify this award
About Island Glass
Island is a drinking glass made for soju, a popular Korean liquor. The form of Island is inspired by the Korean islands Dokdo and Ulleungdo. The name of each island is engraved in Korean letters on the base, and the outer shape follows the lines of these letters. When the glass is placed upside down on the table, as is common in Korean drinking culture, the base is seen first and recalls an island floating on the sea. Island is hand crafted from unleaded crystal, a clear material that supports fine detail and is safe for people and the environment.
Jo Jhunghan's Island Glass emerges from the rich tradition of studio glass practice while demonstrating a distinctly contemporary sensibility that bridges functional design and sculptural expression. The paired vessels presented here exemplify the designer's philosophical approach to tableware, wherein each piece transcends mere utility to become an object of contemplation and aesthetic engagement. The faceted tumbler reveals masterful understanding of crystal's optical properties, its angular geometry creating ever-shifting plays of light and transparency that reward sustained observation, while the organic companion dish introduces biomorphic vocabulary suggestive of natural coastal formations, perhaps evoking the island geography referenced in the work's title. Technical accomplishment manifests in the precision of the faceted cuts, the optical clarity of the polished surfaces, and the considered weight distribution that ensures stability while maintaining visual lightness. The relief pattern adorning the dish's surface suggests traditional architectural or textile motifs translated into crystalline form, creating textural interest that invites both visual and tactile exploration. The presentation against a graduated atmospheric backdrop emphasizes the vessels' transparent qualities while the mirror surface beneath creates a contemplative doubling effect that extends the objects' presence beyond their physical boundaries. This pairing of geometric and organic forms within shared material language speaks to fundamental design dialogues between the constructed and the natural, the rational and the intuitive, the precise and the flowing. The cool blue palette suffusing the entire composition suggests aqueous environments, peaceful waters, or the serene quality of light filtered through mist, reinforcing associations with island landscapes and maritime atmospheres. What meanings emerge when we consider these vessels as meditations on the relationship between human craft and natural form, between the precision of geometry and the freedom of organic growth?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This premium glass with the sentiment of Korea inspired by Korean island, Dokdo and Ulleungdo, crafted by hand is different from the existing uniform shape of the soju glass. The shape of the entire glass inspired by Korean islands, Dokdo and Ulleungdo, is formed according to the name of the island engraved in Korean at the bottom. Furthermore, the glass was designed to be in the form of an island turned upside.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimensions: 57 mm tall, 61 mm diameter, 60 mm diameter at rim. Total capacity approx: 50 ml. Recommended pour: 30 to 40 ml. Weight: 105 grams.
- Tags
- Glassware, Drinkware, Soju, Island, Hangeul
- Production Technology
- To make high-end soju culture, unleaded crystal materials were used. An unleaded crystal has better refraction and bright colors than glass. It is the most suitable material for detailed representations of artifacts and is healthy and environmentally friendly.
- Design Challenge
- The most difficult challenge was to balance the bottom of the glass into which letters were placed by flattening it. The work of making the strokes uniform through manual glasswork had to go through many trials and errors.
- Project Duration
- The initial design and study of the Korean Island and Soju Glass began in July 2017 in Seoul, South Korea. Additional unleaded crystal materials were developed in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, and final molds and designs were finally designed in November 2019. The first sample arrived in the same month in preparation for the Wadiz launch in November 2019. The campaign ended in early December 2019 and exceeded the funding target amount by more than 2000%.
- Operation Flow
- In the setting stage before use, you can see the letters written at the bottom of the glass. Accordingly, the image of Dokdo and Ulleungdo off can be associated. Also, the shape of the glass was formed according to the island name, so you can enjoy different forms depending on the angle you see. If you tilt your head to drink the wine in the glass, the person sitting on the other side can see the letters at the bottom of the glass.
- Research
- First, research has been done to understand the drinking culture of Korea. This made us engrave the name of the island on the bottom of the glass with an embossed seal, considering the Korean culture of setting the glass upside down on the table before using it. Second, studies have been made on usability. Due to the nature of the curved shape, inspection of the center of gravity and grips was essential. Through several user tests, the ideal center of gravity, grip, and thickness was found.
- Inspiration
- The design's starting point dates back to experience on the trip to Ulleung Island. It was a time when we were preoccupied with ways to premium soju, a popular Korean liquor, amid growing demand for high-end spirits. While drinking alcohol during the trip, I came up with the idea that the upside-down glass resembled that of the island floating in the sea, and that it should be combined with the Korean language Hangul to create a new type of glass.
- Image Credits
- Image #1 : Photographer Hyunsung Roh
Image #2 : Photographer Hyunsung Roh
Image #3 : Photographer Hyunsung Roh
Image #4 : Film Director Hyunwook Park
Image #5 : Film Director Hyunwook Park