Kinware: a Brand System for Adaptive Ceramics
Kinware is a self-authored brand that centers around accessible design in ceramics. For my senior thesis, I created the brand value, logo system, and marketing materials. Along with the graphic work, I designed and handmade every ceramic piece that is present in the final installation.
I wanted the brand to feel familiar and joyful, not too serious. The goal was to bring families together and find a way for those who struggle with hand tremors to use dinnerware that was not plastic and infantilizing. Originally, I was thinking of the name “akinware,” using “akin” as the first word.
After the first round of sketching, I went back and refined some of my favorite sketches to ensure that I felt confident in how the brand was presenting itself.
Once I felt comfortable, I realized that I wanted more of a wordmark and that I needed to choose a typeface. I wanted something that was not overly childish, but still had a lively and joyful feeling behind it. Something that had a roundness and bubblelike quality to it. I also wanted to decide on a color palette, and I chose colors that felt natural and earthy, as a way to keep the brand grounded.
With the typeface and color palette chosen, I was able to create a digital rendering of the primary wordmark and the monogram.
Once the brand was settled, I worked on creating the ceramic pieces. I was incredibly inspired by adaptive dinnerwares that already exist, and wanted to find a way to include their uniqueness into my ceramic work. I found that what was important was how the items fit in the hand. Things like handles were helpful in order to stabilize the hands that held it, and having lips to scoop a spoon or fork up against to pack food on the utensil.
When my sketches were refined, I went to my ceramics studio and created many prototypes and iterations of the ceramic work. When it came time to glaze, I settled on a white, organic glaze that contributed to the earthy tone while still being able to be used in most kitchen and dining room aesthetics.
The last part of this project was to design an installation, and it was showcased in May of 2024. With this installation, I created a vinyl design and 4 posters, as well as displayed my ceramic work on a table to have a more interactive feel. Visitors were able to pick up and feel the different pieces around the table and notice the ways that it made their hands feel.