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Project Overview

“Chimarrão” is a very important part of the culture of Rio Grande do Sul, the southern state of Brazil. It’s a bitter drink that consists of boiling water mixed with hot maté tea, and it’s called “erva mate” in the state, it’s also known as just “mate”. The drinking of chimarrão is like a rite in itself for the people who live in Rio Grande do Sul, it’s often shared between friends and family in between gatherings or it’s merely appreciated by a single person in moments of relaxation. The problem is that chimarrão is not a simple drink that one can carry inside a bottle and drink from anywhere, the containers are also part of what makes the drink special. Chimarrão is drunk from a “cuia” through a metallic straw called “bomba”, the mate powder stays in the cuia while the boiling water stays in a different place, a bottle that keeps it warm and ready to be poured into the cuia. The problem is – carrying all that, the cuia, the bottle, and all the specific things that are involved in drinking chimarrão, can be quite troublesome. If the person goes to the park with their bike, for example, they might find it hard to carry everything, and since drinking chimarrão is one of the highlights of the life in Rio Grande do Sul, this idea came out of a wish to make those moments simpler.

Project Aim

This project aims to create a product that can make the experience of drinking chimarrão more “compact” while preserving the drink and the way it’s consumed, how can it be taken on trips without a big heavy bag? The product mustn’t erase any aspect of the culture of Rio Grande do Sul, such as changing the drink in any way or getting rid of aspects like the bomba or the cuia, but those can and are encouraged to be redesigned in a way that makes them easier to carry around. Another important aspect is the material that the product is created, it has to be resistant and lasting since chimarrão is a boiling hot drink, but the fabrication of it mustn’t have negative impacts on the environment.

Project Objectives

Project Objectives Cultural Celebration: The design of the product must exist to make the act of sharing and consuming chimarrão even easier. Ergonomics, accessibility, and aesthetics: It should be functional in a way that anyone could use it in any situation, like carrying it while walking, while inside a vehicle, while riding a bike, or anything like the sort. Tradition is very important to the people of Rio Grande do Sul, so it’s encouraged that the aesthetic of the product also follows that path.

Users

The design is aimed at people who make drinking chimarrão a part of their everyday life, who bring it to gatherings and events to share with their loved ones or on walks by themselves. Our target users are adults since chimarrão is mainly drunk by them since it has a bitter taste and is a very hot drink, not only that but those who value this tradition and wish to share it with their loved ones, people who travel, go to walks a lot in their routines and that visit their friends and family. They live in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and they represent us, our friends and our families since the majority of the population takes part in this tradition.

Delivery and presentation

Delivery and presentation For the activities required from the group,

• the first moment should be of research to understand the culture of Rio Grande do Sul and what the people of the state value;
• Sketches of the product should be made, those should already test form, texture, and color;
• A CAD model that contains the idea chosen to be developed and (if possible) 3D models as well;
• And lastly, a prototype.