October 2024

Here’s how we designed

We have designed two schemes in terms of appearance and function, and the following are our design ideas.

Option 1:

1. Design

1. Colors & Patterns:

      The main color is traditional Russia dark blue and gold. The dark blue color represents the depth and mystery of Russia, while the gold pattern adds a retro luxury. The pattern can be traditional Russian floral motifs, such as sunflowers, daisies, etc., or architectural motifs with Russia characteristics, such as the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, etc.

2. Material and Texture:

      The cup is made of high-quality bone china material, which not only has good thermal insulation performance, but also has a delicate texture and high gloss, which can present a retro texture.

      The surface of the cup can be hand-painted and carved to add three-dimensionality and artistry. The carved motifs can be traditional Russia ornaments, such as vines, flowers, etc.

3. Lid Design:

      The lid has a vintage design that echoes the body of the cup and can be made of gold metal with gemstones or pearls. The top of the lid can be designed with a small handle, which is convenient for the grandfather to open and close the lid.

The inside of the lid can be installed with a silicone gasket to ensure the sealing of the cup and prevent beverage leakage.

2. Functional design

1. Keep warm function:

Adopt a double-layer ceramic structure with vacuum insulation materials filled in the middle, such as nano-silver ion insulation layers, which can effectively maintain the temperature of beverages. The preservation time can be up to several hours, so that the elderly can drink hot tea at any time when going out. The cup is equipped with an exquisite leather cup sleeve. High-quality leather in dark brown or black can be selected, and traditional Russian patterns or words can be embossed on it. The inside of the cup sleeve can be filled with soft sponge to protect the cup from impacts.

https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/65954170000000001102e846?secondshare=weixin&share_from_user_hidden=true&appuid=&apptime=1730443565&share_id=8536b60f591d4392b73e42a418ec57a9&xsec_source=h5_share&xsec_token=CBfsHAfXibYZRcyVU00MjAE_YUtyYYFWfKVHk0P_RXbyU=&wechatWid=a09d472ebde532ca1c1ce7ef8e734dd3&wechatOrigin=menu

      A heating base can be designed at the bottom of the cup, and the power supply can be connected via the USB port, which can heat the cup and ensure that the drink is always at the right temperature.

2. portability：

      An adjustable shoulder strap or carry strap is designed on the cup sleeve, allowing the grandfather to choose the carrying method according to his needs. The shoulder straps can be designed with a wide width to reduce the pressure on the shoulders; The carrying strap can be designed as a soft leather material for a comfortable feel.

3. Leak-proof design:

The cup mouth is sealed with silicone to ensure that the cup will not leak when tilted or inverted. The seal can be chosen in dark blue or gold to match the color of the cup body, which is both beautiful and practical.

      A locking device is designed on the lid of the cup, and when the lid is closed, the latch will automatically lock to prevent the lid from being opened accidentally. The lock can be made of metal, and some delicate patterns can be engraved on it to increase the beauty of the cup.

Option 2:

    1. Design    

1. Overall Shape:

      The shape of the cup can refer to the traditional blue and white porcelain teacup, with a slightly rounded curve, elegant and stable. The cup is of moderate height for easy holding and carrying.

      The bottom is designed to be smoothly rounded, ensuring stability when the cup is placed.

2. Colors and patterns:

      The main color is classic blue and white porcelain blue, with white as the background color, creating a fresh and elegant atmosphere.

The cup body is painted with exquisite traditional blue and white patterns, such as intertwined lotuses, peonies, landscapes, etc., showing the charm of rich traditional Chinese culture. It can be hand-painted to make the pattern more delicate and vivid, full of artistic sense.
The edge of the cup can be outlined with gold lines to add a touch of luxury and also echo the retro style.

Materials and textures:
The cup body is made of high-quality ceramic materials to ensure good heat insulation and durability. The texture of ceramics is fine and can better present the patterns and colors of blue and white porcelain.

      The handles can be made of wood, such as dark walnut or cherry, and are finely polished to create a material contrast with the ceramic cup, adding a vintage vibe. The shape of the wooden handle can be designed to be curved in an arc, which is ergonomic and comfortable to hold.

https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/66f8db8f000000001b0207e5?app_platform=ios&app_version=8.59&share_from_user_hidden=true&xsec_source=app_share&type=normal&xsec_token=CBKgmyx9bpH9HECt4ukFZ0tgVNWmEOZD1C7YzyOha7RA8=&author_share=1&xhsshare=WeixinSession&shareRedId=ODs7Njs5Rjw2NzUyOTgwNjg1OTc6PEg8&apptime=1730443898&share_id=b1314350d2cd497eb918c9c3e9993b62&wechatWid=a09d472ebde532ca1c1ce7ef8e734dd3&wechatOrigin=menu

4.Lid design:

      It is equipped with a lid that matches the style of the cup, which can be made of porcelain and is also painted with blue and white porcelain patterns.

      The top of the lid can be designed with a small ceramic button to facilitate opening and closing the lid. Silicone seals can be added to the rim of the lid to ensure the tightness of the cup and prevent the drink from spilling.

    2. Functional design    

1. Thermal Insulation Performance:

      Adding highly effective insulation to the inside of the cup ensures that the drink can be kept warm for a longer period of time. Whether it’s hot tea or coffee, it allows the old man to enjoy a warm drink at any time when he is out and about.

      Double-layer ceramic structure can be used, and the vacuum insulation layer can be filled in the middle to improve the insulation effect.

2. Moderate Capacity:

      The capacity of the cup should be designed to be moderate, which can not only meet the needs of the grandfather for one drink, but also not too heavy or bulky, and easy to carry. A capacity of 300–500 ml can be selected.

The above are some of our ideas, you are very welcome to discuss with us, and tell us some of your thoughts and suggestions on our design, we hope that you will tell us which ones you choose and like, so that we can go through your feedback and further a more detailed and comprehensive design solution.

About Marias’s grandfather

We would like to tell you about Maria’s grandfather. Her grandfather, like her, was born in Donetsk. Today, Maria has only one grandfather left alive, on her father’s side. Her grandfather is now 73 years old, he is a pensioner. After graduating from the institute, he worked in the regulatory authorities of the Donetsk region his entire working life. During his work as an auditor, he checked and inspected not only the region, but also some Union Republics of the former Soviet Union.

Grandfather was born in the city of Snezhnoye, Donetsk region, in the family of a disabled miner, a sailor of the Black Sea Fleet, a participant in the Great Patriotic War. After graduating from high school, he began his career as a car mechanic, then as a miner in a mine. He served in the Soviet Army. In the Army, he was also actively involved in sports. At the USSR Missile Forces Boxing Championship, he fulfilled the standard of a candidate for Master of Sports of the USSR.

But the most important thing is that Masha’s grandfather is a creative person, he is a poet and a writer. He has written and published more than 10 collections of poems, stories and fairy tales in various publishing houses in Donbass. He dedicated many of them to his wife and granddaughter.

This is how unusual Maria’s grandfather is in terms of creativity. But otherwise, he is an ordinary person, just like us:

• gets up at 7 am
• does morning prayer
• does exercises
• has breakfast.
• is engaged in creativity and his household chores throughout the day.

Grandfather visits the club of creative intelligentsia of the city of Donetsk, which is located in the Central Library. He reads new poems written by him there. He willingly attends art exhibitions, concerts and performances of poets – bards. He tries to live a full creative and ordinary life.

Recently, in 2022 and 2023, grandfather wrote and published three collections of poems under the same title “Drobyshevo”: about the surrounding nature, beautiful winters; hard rural labor, a terrible war, about love for a woman.

Grandfather spent two years in the village of ‘Drobyshevo’ working on a large rural plot of land, tending the garden and growing vegetables: tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, onions, carrots, cabbage, garlic and herbs. And in the garden: apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes; melons: magnificent watermelons and melons.

Of course, it is not easy for Masha’s grandfather, he is sick. He complains to doctors about headaches, joint pain, blood pressure. Quite recently, he began to include Chinese healing methods of Shiatsu, acupressure, tapping with a wooden stick on the body in his exercise cycle, but there is no Chinese literature that could be used to fully study. He asks Maria to look for this literature in Moscow. I think she will find it soon. Grandfather dreams of visiting China, getting to know the sights of the country, visiting the famous Great Wall of China.

Now it is worth telling about the peculiarity of Masha’s grandfather. Every time he works on a new work, he likes to brew himself tea. For him, this is a special ritual that gives him inspiration. But he drinks tea not only while writing, he also loves to have tea with the whole family. Especially when Maria comes to him on vacation. But the traditions of Russian tea drinking differ in many ways from the traditions of other countries.

Tea traditions in Russia – where they came from and how they developed.

In Russia, tea drinking has a long and rich history, playing an important role in culture and social life. In brief, the traditions look like this:

– History of its appearance in Russia. Tea appeared in Russia at the end of the 17th century, when the first tea parties were held by Tsar Peter I. Soon tea became a popular drink in Russian society.

– Russian sweet table. The tradition is often associated with the concept of a “tea table”. This is a dinner event during which a wide range of snacks and sweet dishes are served, accompanied, of course, by tea. Various types can be presented here – from black to green.

– Samovar. Traditional Russian utensils for boiling water, play a key role in Russian tea parties. It is often decorated with patterns and serves as a central element when serving.

– Brewing. It is done with a teapot or samovar. To maintain the optimal temperature of the brew, the teapot is covered with a handmade “babka”(teapot cover).

– Tea in Russian literature and art. It played a significant role in Russian literature and art. Many works, such as “The Master and Margarita” by M.A. Bulgakov, describe tea ceremonies as part of everyday life.

– Tea houses and establishments. In modern Russia, there are many themed houses and cafes where people can enjoy a variety of teas, snacks and desserts. Such places usually create a cozy atmosphere, and the choice can vary from traditional varieties to exotic mixes.

– Russian black tea. Can be served with honey, lemon or jam. Often chosen for its strong flavour, which pairs well with traditional Russian appetizers.

– Tea parties with family and friends. Often associated with socialising. Families and friends gather together in the evening or on weekends to share experiences, discuss news and enjoy a cup of hot drink.

– Christmas and holiday traditions. During festive periods such as Christmas, tea drinking becomes especially festive. Families gather over a cup of tea, exchange gifts and give each other warmth and attention.

– Tea in Russian folk medicine. Russian culture traditionally believes in the healing properties of tea. Different types are considered beneficial to health, and in some cases tea is used as a remedy for colds and other ailments.

Overall, tea traditions in Russia represent hospitality, warmth and socialising. Tea is an integral part of the Russian way of life and continues to play an important role in the country’s everyday culture and an element of public life, symbolizing hospitality and comfort. The centuries-old traditions remain an important part of Russian culture today.

Problem

Sometimes Maria’s Grandfather faces problems that are related to his tradition of brewing tea before working with books. He often has to search for cups and mugs throughout the apartment. In addition, he is especially inspired by vintage and antique cups. He has a huge collection of porcelain tea sets.

Therefore, he becomes very sad when he cannot drink from beautiful cups on the street or in the library, which he often goes to. He has to take a thermos with him, which is many times different from his favorite cups.

Name: Xiaoyu Zhang

Age: 20

Hometown: Qingdao

Qingdao is surrounded by mountains and the sea. It has beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate. Red tiles, green trees, the sea and the blue sky reflect each other, showing the beautiful posture of Qingdao. Red reefs, small waves, colorful sails and golden beaches form the beautiful scenic line of Qingdao. History, religion, folk customs, local conditions and customs, and festival celebrations endow Qingdao tourism with rich cultural connotations. The former residences of celebrities that condense modern history and culture; buildings of various countries with typical European styles form a characteristic of combining Chinese and Western elements.

Disposition: humorous and easy going, enjoying good relationships with my classmates.

Hobbies and interests:  I grew up near the sea in Qingdao, so l love the waves and the beach .But unfortunately ,l can’t swim, so l can only play in the shallow water or sand with a swimming ring.

Future expectation: l am very honored to be a part of this group and lam looking forward to learning and working

with you. Can’t wait to get to know everyone.

My email: 3437793564@qq.com

Finally, please find attached some photos of my hometown. You are welcome to visit there.