Cin Cin
Ceramic Stemware
Exploring ceramic stemware
Project Focus | Product Development
Skills | R&D, Ceramics Production
Summer 2024-Present
The "sober-ish" movement is transforming the beverage industry as mindful drinking replaces the traditional party culture.
Younger generations have shifted consumer priorities, actively reducing alcohol intake in favor of achieving health goals.
Drinks have evolved as the global non-alcoholic market climbs toward $30B, but the hardware remains unchanged.
As social gatherings reflect the change in consumption, the demand for inclusive rituals has grown.
How can we bridge the gap between water and wine, prioritizing social inclusion over alcohol content?
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Piece List
I sketched my planned pieces and refined them to be cohesive as a set. I wanted to make 3 types of glassware, a carafe, a mixing glass, a measuring jigger, a muddler and 2 rimming dishes with a juicer.
Prototyping concept
on the Wheel
Throwing
I chose quantity over quality at first, to practice clay distribution and compression. I was seeing improvement in wall consistency and speed gradually.
Trimming Stems
I had to do this in 3 different setups in order to achieve the 'skinniest' of stems. Even with my countless hours of practice, I still hold my breath handling greenware.
Attaching
Matching moisture levels when attaching the bowl and stem was crucial. If it was too dry, it would just snap holding the weight of the bowl.
Shrinkage
Porcelain is know for its higher percentages of shrinkage amongst clay bodies. Since I wanted close to accurate measurements, I used a shrinkage bar and math
Measured decisions
The idea was to create a gradient from green to white across the collection (very Pincus inspired). I used overlays on images of the bisqueware to mockup surfacing options for the collection.
Pyroplasticity
Something I didn’t know could be an issue was pyroplasticity during the glaze firing. The weight of the drinkware caused the stem to lean over, giving more Alice in Wonderland than Elvish elegance. Maybe a different kiln setup could prevent this issue.
Extra support
I decided to take advantage of the pyroplasticity by gravity by firing the cups upside down. This also helped straighten any slumping formed during the drying stage.
Gaining Interest
Cin Cin has always received a very enthusiastic reaction from peers and strangers. I got some great feedback on what people were gravitating towards and also offers to buy my prototypes.
The next step, scaling production.
VARIATIONS exhibition, 2025
ArtCenter Grad Show, 2025
Slip Casting for Production
Ceramics production is scaled by slip casting in plaster molds. Considering the man hours per cup when made on the wheel, it would significantly cut down making time and be less taxing on the body.
Ideating the product line
Besides its primary function to hold liquids, I wanted to add more depth and tactility to an object that is a multisensory experience.
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Can rituals be created with the purpose of grounding, calling attention to the various ways we interact with cups on different occasions?
Exploring light, movement and sound
Form Exploration for casting
Besides its primary function to hold liquids, I wanted to add more depth and tactility to an object that is a multisensory experience.
Production Casting
Initially, I tested a simpler form to learn about mold making. I used 3D prints to make multiple molds so I could speed up production.
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Business Plan
Cin Cin by CIRQ
Cin Cin is a primary product line for CIRQ. The brand is about circularity, maximizing resources into secondary product lines.
Breakage
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Clay-based ceramic stemware seems to snap on impact at the stem. Pieces are otherwise large enough that kintsugi can be an exciting feature of the cup.
Glass stemware tends to shatter on impact, sending miniscule invisible pieces of glass everywhere.
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Moving Forward
With the R&D of the concept underway, business setup and outreach are the next steps to grow from an idea to a reality.
Next steps:
- Finalize designs and start production
- Setup business platform
