Dew Tea Set

A tea set that encourages conversation and connection; design informed by both contemporary and traditional Chinese teahouse culture.
Product Design

Initial Research

Read about the in-depth process of harvesting and developing teas. Learned about the unique flavor profiles and brewing techniques for different teas. Followed readings with an introduction to ceramics; learned about center of gravity, and proper teapot construction.

What about elsewhere?

The phrase “lao ren cha,” which translates to “Old Man’s Tea,” is the informal Taiwanese phrase for gong fu cha (traditional Chinese brewing). My cousin and her friends partake in lao ren cha at tea houses that offer a contemporary cafe experience with a traditional spin. Often, oolongs are served.

photo credits: @shawsmile.9212>>

User Persona

Teahouse experiences today.

Over the summer, I went with my friend to a teahouse in Pasadena, CA. While we were there, many young adults came in to work. The teahouse was great for cozy conversation. I hoped to replicate this warm feeling for the users.

Variation Strengths

Key Steps in Tea Brewing Techniques

Chinese Tea Brewing Techniques

Gong Fu Cha is the practice of traditional Chinese tea brewing styles. The term roughly translates to skillfully making tea; Gong Fu (Kung Fu) translates to skillful work. For my design, I focused on small pot brewing.

Aesthetic Inspiration

Initial Ideation Sketching

Tea Set Exploration

Preliminary Models

Corrugated paper prototypes for size validation. Testers thought the cup was too tall, the teapots were too bulky, and the handle position was awkward. Forms need to be scaled down and shorter to better reflect the proportions of small brew teapots.

Teapot Part Refinement

I played with different parts of the teapot below. One major change was the teapot body shape; the updated body is rounder, softer, and stouter. I wanted to emphasize playfulness and youthfulness.

Pink Foam Handle Models

Used pink foam to test different handle options.

Liked upturned round handle the best; it had multiple comfortable grip orientations.

Tray patterns are abstractions of water forms and ocean elements. Water and fish can symbolize many things in Chinese culture, including wealth, life, and strength.

Tray Pattern Explorations

Final Model Process

After 3D printing models, sanded and primed them. Following the initial layer of primer, sanded the pieces again to prep the surface for filling. Used automotive putty to fill the gaps. Repeated the process a few times, then coated the tea set parts with white paint.