Product Design / Houseware / Tableware
Minware
Minware is a new set of tableware design for a restaurant which was going to open in Shishi by a hotel group. The design development based on the culture in Southern Min (also known as Minnan). [The design rationale - Sino culture content in the form of the design feature are for internal use only.]
Overview
Minware consists of 4 sets of dishware and 1 set of eating utensils.
Dishware set:
圓方 Dome
Main pot, made of white clay with aluminum handle, with stone warmer.
寶 Gem
Secondary pot, made of white porcelain with aluminum handle, with porcelain warmer.
葉 Leaf
Multi-purpose plate, with 3 auxiliary mini bowls and 1 small pot with lid, all in white porcelain.
漪 Ripple
Big white porcelain plate with a partition on one side.
Eating utensils:
Lion to Sea
White porcelain bowl, saucer, tea cup and chopstick holder.
The whole design process lasted for 2 months. 2 designers joined in the second half, over 100 CAD were done. 3 main design documents, 7 sets of tableware styles, 15 technical drawings and 17 prototype parts were made.
Embracing Minnan Culture
Shishi (石獅) is a city in Southern Min, China. Its literal meaning in Chinese is “stone lion”. According to legend, there was densely populated in the Sui Dynasty as ancestors were engaged in the production of sea salt and people often meet at a
stone lion in front of a temple, "Shishi" was named for it.
Setting up a stone lion as an amulet for stopping wind and safety is a Minnan coastal area traditional culture. The brand logo is the visualization of a stone lion to carry the tradition’s content.
Stage 1 - Pitching
Sino culture was the common ground, with provided restaurant visual identity which showed the concept of the direction of the style itself clearly, the first proposal including three design directions was done.
Stage 2 - Trip
The design proposal was acknowledged. I was invited to Shishi. Local heritage tours, museums, city walks, those were giving deep insights of Minnan culture.
Design to presentation was their concern. The restaurant manager led different local high-end restaurant visits, showing how Minnan cuisines bloomed.
While the new restaurant was under construction, the executive chef brought me to the kitchen inside the hotel, which was at the same flow. The stories of the dishes behind were told, how they came up with the dishes, the spirits inside as
well.
Having conversations with both waitstaff and kitchen staff, the expectation of handling the new tablewares was concluded. The management level brought out their vision, especially to the customers. The user experience direction was clear.
Stage 3 - Design Interim
After concluding all parties’ expectations, the detailed production list was settled. Designer team was set and further developed those 3 directions. From R&D to 3D prototypes, everything was presented in an interim report.
Final Stage
One set of design was selected as the main steam, some elements from other sets were endorsed and applied. Design was finalized and submitted. 2 months later, I revisited the restaurant in Shishi.
Project Timeline
Start
Design request received
Initial communication and confirmation
Brand identity and other information received
Stage 1
Branding analysis and cultural research
3D sketching with rendering
Stage 1 design proposal
Trip
Local site visit
Hotel site visit
Heritage tours
Local tours
Meeting with directors
Meeting with management
Dialogue with all related staff
Sit in interior design meeting
After trip
Form of design task suggestion
Form of task confirmation
Coordinate designer human resources
Stage 2
Stage 2 Design development
2D sketching
3D sketching with rendering
Stage 2 design proposal
Final stage
Final design confirmation
Design wrap-up and fine tune
3D modeling
3D prototyping
Technical drawing
Final design submission
Post design
3D printing
Prototyping
(Restaurant open)
Revisit Shishi
Special Thank
R. T.
:)