Meet Our Designer Layla Feder

Who doesn't enjoy a sizable yet stylish mug? We sat down with our Brooklyn-based product designer Layla Feder to spill the tea on our shiny and new double-walled glass mugs. 

Q 
What inspired these mugs? 

A 
I’ve seen double-wall glasses and mugs on the shelves for years.The double-wall concept wowed me, but the design and shape didn't. The market is saturated with rounded mugs. I've always been more attracted to the symmetry of a square, so I decided to design the square mug I’ve so desperately wanted. Once I’d settled on the shape, I wondered, Why stick with clear glass? My paintings and graphic art are filled with color, why should my mug design be any different? So, I added a pop of color to the inner wall of the mug. I love the strong contrast of the colored glass behind the clear.

Q
What else do you love about these mugs?

A
This design solves a problem everyone has. Hot hands! Have you ever tried to pass a mug filled with hot coffee to your friend? To avoid burning their hand, you have to place the mug down so they then can lift it up by the handle. The fix? The double-walled mug. It remains cool to the touch and looks beautiful too.

Q
Why did you choose these three colors? 

A
People play with tone and color in their home decor, I wanted us to offer a warm, a cool, and a neutral option. I chose a warm amber that dominates the Mid-Century Modern color palette, a blue emerald drawn from a wall-paint color that's been trending in recent years, and a medium gray to align with the minimalism of blacks and whites.

Q
What is borosilicate glass?

A
Unlike most other glass, borosilicate doesn't crack under extreme temperature changes. It’s a special kind of glass that’s remarkably durable while also being lightweight, thin, and beautifully clear.

Q
What’s the benefit of the double-walled design?

A
Double-walled glassware is good for both the drinker and the drink. The empty space between the outer and inner glass walls acts as insulation. The liquid in the glass, be it hot or cold, holds its temperature, and its heat doesn’t transfer to the outer glass wall. A crisp cold rosé in a stemless wine glass gets warm pretty fast, but a double walled glass it stays cold and delicious. I’m such a fan of this technology. We don’t have to sacrifice the quality of our drinks, nor do we burn ourselves when holding something hot. 

Q
Hold up! Does this technology knock the classic ceramic mug off the shelf?

A
I wouldn’t go quite that far. A classic is a classic for a reason. I’m not going to kick ceramic out of the cupboard. But, a ceramic coffee mug doesn’t protect the hand, and it doesn’t keep your coffee hot. That’s how it is. As a product designer, I need to accept the facts about the materials I choose to work with.

Q
What do you love most about these mugs?

A
My favorite thing about these mugs is their lightness, both visually and in the hand. They weigh very little, and the inner layer evokes an illusion of your vessel floating in space.

Q
Can we expect more double-walled products in Art+Cook’s future collections?

A
Yes! I can't reveal them just yet, but I’m excited to offer more products like this. Be on the lookout, because they might come out when you least expect it! 

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