Vintage Sips - Coffee Set Design | Process

A cohesive coffee set focused on form language, proportion, and material expression through CAD and rendering.

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Design Opportunity

Research & design a cohesive coffee set that includes 3 pieces.


User / Context

Target Audience 18-60yo

  • At-home coffee system

  • Nostalgic yet modern

  • Aesthetic (functional decor)

  • Nesting capabilities (cabinet storage)

  • Intuitive


Concept exploration

Mood Board

Early inspiration that incorporates nostalgia, function & beauty.

Form Research

Gaining an understanding of classic forms & concepts found in coffee-related products.

Early Ideation

Exploring playful, retro-futuristic forms & possible pieces


Decision Making

Clarified Concept Drawing

Whittled down ideation to a sketch showing 4 parts, electric kettle, a travel mug, a milk frothing cup, and a measuring spoon.

Swooping, half-moon forms are consistent throughout each piece, and give a modern design a touch of nostalgia - inspired by mid-century coffee products.

CAD Development

Building 3 pieces in SolidWorks with attention to detail and real-life functionality.


Final Outcome

Final Design & Render

The result is a sleek & retro-futuristic 3 part coffee set. The swooping forms are not only beautiful, but functional, utilized as grip and insulation to keep the user safe. Accents inform the user how to hold each piece, making for a highly intuitive concept.


Project Reflection

What I Learned

  • How to build complex forms in SolidWorks

  • How to utilize Blender to accurately communicate a design concept

  • The importance of gaining an understanding of the user before ideation & development

Project Constraints

  • 3 week time frame alongside other projects

  • Solo project - no team to collaborate with

If I had more time, I would…

  • Build a stronger user/context foundation before ideation - make sure my design is solving an existing problem

  • gathered feedback throughout the ideation process

  • explored a wider range of concepts

  • Continue to refine the details in my CAD models