The heritage of tea is laden with ritual and meaning that dates back thousands of years and spans the globe. The Japanese heat the tetsubin, a cast iron pot, over a portable charcoal brazier in the art of chanoyo, the tea ceremony. The Russian samovar earns its charm from its function: It keeps water, and a pot of tea concentrate, hot for hours, drawing people together in communal relaxation and conversation. At its best, the modern tea kettle translates this heritage into an icon of contemporary life, with form that functions at all levels.
The functions of a kettle are manifold. First, it must hold a dangerous substance-boiling water. It must operate safely and reliably. It must communicate its status instantly. When well designed, it elevates the experience of preparing, sharing, and consuming tea. No small task.
The intriguing balance between functionality and meaning inherent to this quintessential icon of the home has inspired us at World Kitchen to choose the tea kettle as a vehicle for design education, experience and expression. Thus, we are sponsoring this Tea Kettle Design Competition, with the endorsement of the Industrial Designers Society of America.
We have structured the competition to offer an inspiring opportunity to delve into cultural meaning through three fundamental materials. And we plan to reward the best designs at the International Home + Housewares Show ® in March 2009 with $5,000 each.
What is the place of this icon in the context of the 21st century home and life experience? Is it the communal magnet or the microwavable drink-and-dash all-in-one? Through this competition, we invite you to celebrate with us the rich heritage of tea, and explore the future place of the tea kettle.
With warm regards,
Craig Sampson
Chief Innovation Officer
World Kitchen LLC