How often do you notice the mug you are drinking out of? Did you pick it out personally or just grab one from the shelf? In this article I want to explore the mug and its impact.
Personal Selection:what are some reasons I selected this tool?
I picked a mub because it is a tool I use everyday and prefer it over any other kind of cup. I have done ceramics for many years and I have made my fair share of mugs. I love all the shapes and details that change from mug to mug.
History:
Mugs were made of many, many different materials. The first one was made of mostly likely animal bone in China or Japan around 10000 BCE. Mugs were also made of wood but none really survived so it is hard to determine when they were created. The next mug material in the timeline is ceramic from around 2000–2500 BCE. Metals mugs made of bronze, silver, gold and lead were made around the same time as ceramic mugs. Finally mugs were made of porcelain around 600 BCE, which is what a majority of what mugs are made of today.
Function:
Its primary function is to drink liquids out of whether that is water, hot chocolate, coffee, juice or milkshakes.
User:
Everybody! The people who use mugs the most are the people who like to drink hot drinks such as coffee and tea. The reason being the handle allows the user to hold the mug without burning their hand. 63% of adults between the ages of 25–39 drink coffee everyday and it is likely that a lot of those people use a mug.
Materials + Production:
Besides the materials I mentioned in the history section, mugs are also made of glass and plastic. Manufacturing depends on what the mug is made of. Porcelain, glass, metal, plastic mugs are mass produced while wood, ceramic and bone mugs are generally handcrafted and custom made.
Affordance + Signifiers:
The handle on the mug looks much like a door handle definitely giving the user the impression that is where they need to put their hand to lift it. The openness of the inside of the mug shows where the liquid goes.
Thank you! I hope you liked learning a little more about the mug.
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