Netdiver (ISSN 1911-866X)

Summary / introduction

This curated selection of drinking glasses was inspired from a drink of water the other day. We often overlook items that we use daily and often dismiss thoughts about who, where and how these various vessels have come to existence. Specimens included here range from the iconic NYC Deli cup to hand crafted crystal service sets.

Many of the designs have reinvented the common drinking glass into explosive works of high concept art.

B Series Service

Review: Josef Hoffmann an Austrian architect and Designer found inspiration in strong geometric forms. The example shown known as the B Series Service was designed in 1912 for J&L Lobmeyr. These glasses are meticulously crafted from crystal and embellished with a black bronzite décor.

Glass Service

Review: Adolf Loos was also an influential Austrian architect and designer, much like Hoffmann. His Glass service shown here was designed in 1931 two years before his death in 1933. J&L Lobmeyr also produced this set. Blown, hand-cut and polished crystal.

Heller Cups

Review: Massimo Vignelli designed these bold yet reductive cups for Heller in 1970. When the cups are stacked they form a hole where the handels of the cups meet mimicking the opening at the top of the cup.

5 in Uno Set

Review: Originally designed by Joe Colombo in 1970 this innovative design is an abstraction of a blossoming flower. The concept is simple 5 glasses designed for a five course meal. Each one to be used at different times during meal: spirits, port/prosecco/desert apéritif, wine (white/red), water, and brandy. These vessels are made of hand blown glass.

The Cremier Collage

Review: Designed by 5.5 design for the fondation Bernardaud twists rococco-esque aesthetics and elegantly blends it with post-modern functionaltiy. Handels in this collection are cut abruptly short or their counters filled in rendering them un-functionable. Making user rethink the way it grasps these pieces.

Transglass

Review: Transglass was produced in 1997 by Tord Boontje as collaboration with Emma Woffenden, these cut/sheared bottles have re-invented the drinking glass with a light witty touch.

NYC Deli cup

Review: Designed in 2004 by Graham Hill this ceramic replica of the common New York City deli cup has become an instant classic and has been given rank with Milton Glasers I heart NY campaign by some critics.

Vaken

Review: Ikea delivers functionality and clarity of form in Ola Wihilborg new Vaken juice glass series produced.

Crystal

Review: In 2005 Tobias Wong introduced the "crystal" disposable cup, it seamlessly blurs the line between ultimate luxury and the mundane disposable cup.

Half Liter Porvoo

Review: This half liter Porvoo Measure cup a standard item in the daily life of the finnish, take it out of context and you’ve got a spectacular hand made hot chocolate mug with an official finish government seal.

Netdiver asked all fab scouts to answer same questions..

#2 – Greatest moment?

Some of the best critiques often come from not our peers but the end user of our designs. I had been working on some exhibition collateral and on the night of the opening an elderly woman had picked up one of the exhibition guides and pointed out some major design flaws that had been over looked due to content management issues.

artwork / MB Portrait

Biography

Michael Brenner hails from a small farm town in the foothills of northwest Connecticut. In 2005 he received a degree in graphic design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has worked at Winterhouse studio, Tsang Seymour Design and is currently collaborating on projects with mgmt. design in New York City.