Before Start

As far as one of the design features of this project is to make a holder for several cup sizes, I did fast research about what kind of dimensions these cups are usually made. As was mentioned before, the market for these cups is enormous. And each brand is offering something if not unique, but separate. Also, I noticed that most of the offerings are two cups — large and extralarge. I believe that the user must have a choice not only in colors and types of material (which, by the way, is either plastic or metal) but also in sizes of the drinks (means, cups).

That is the reason I decided to make a prototype of my cup that ideally will be selling with or for the holder I design. I will not be focused on the cup design itself. The project is not about the cup. I just want to target the basic dimensions and highlight that the lid it this cup must contain the “straw-less” functionality.

Another reason to make a mock-up for cups is working in 3d. In my opinion, sketches are greate for visualizing a basic idea of design, but some details are seen more clearly in real objects, even if it is just a paper. Also, the paper is an excellent and cheap material to make prototypes more or less fast.

The pattern for both cups and the holder will be developed in Rhino to get precise dimensions. And the digital pattern is easy to correct than pencil-ruler.

Additionally, working with paper before fabric could give some other ideas for design in both visual and functional ways.