Rüdesheimer in the sky

Industrial Design Studio | Fall 2025| 5 Weeks

Skills: Sketching | Illustrator | Photoshop | Fusion | 3D Printing | Photography

pROJECT INTENT

For this project, my goal was to research a unique drink and put it in a different eaqully unique environment.

Mood Board

My initial research for the project led me to Rudeshiem, Germany. I researched a traditional beverage known as Rudeshiemer Coffee. It was made from black coffee, Alspach brandy, and some sugar. The drink is traditionally served in its own unique cup. I decided to put the beverage up in the sky on a private airline flight. Combining the two would involve capturing the unique form of the Rüdesheimer cup and the utilitarian nature of airline dishware.

I was inspired by the delicate curves of the tradtional Rudeshiemer cup. The boxy nature and the way parts fit into one another stood out to me about the airline pieces.

making the drink

At the beginning of my process, I designed a chart to break down the steps of making Rudeshiemer Coffee. Doing this helped me understand what potential dishware pieces I may need to design.

IDEATION

Based on my breakdown, I sketched various forms for the dishware pieces I would need. I found that forms with inverse curves stood out for their Rudeshiemer-like form and potential stackability.

physical prototypes | human interaction

  • Too tight in the grip

  • too wide to grasp fully

  • good proportion of pitcher to handle

  • holding area too high, adds strain to wrist

  • handle under too much stress

  • Handle to circular, forces hand up

  • handle feels like a pen

  • comically large

  • curved handle feels good in hand

  • rounder center gives a good place for the fingers to rest

  • curved handle adds balance to the pitcher

fusion prototyping

  • 1st iteration - strays too far from the traditional form

  • 2nd iteration - sharp edges stray from intended form, but rounder center leans into intent

  • 3rd iteration - too experimental, but an interesting exercise

  • 4th iteration - more intersting form but needs refinement

  • 5th iteration - started experimenting with a wrap but form needs to be refined a little more

  • 6th iterations- final form for the cup design, can use this for the rest of the set

  • 7th iteration - first full set, but lack refinement. first expiriemnt with combining ladle and pitcher

  • 8th iterations - added tray, forms more refined, some issues with the wrap

Final model / explodeview

Final context render

To make my presentation rendering, I used a adobe stock photo, KeyShot render, and Photoshop

in context features

Final model

next project: nebulight