Amsterdam Mugs
DUS designs limited edition mugs for Iittala
The Local Mug project will be launched in four cities: Helsinki, Amsterdam, London, and Stockholm. Iittala will work with a local design company in each of these cities to create a special, limited edition mug. DUS is Iittala's partner for Amsterdam.
xxx city-eyes mugs
DUS believes that the story of Amsterdam is best told by watching its windows. The Dutch famously leave their curtains open and put their most beloved items in the windowpane for everyone to see. Unfortunately, this tradition is gradually disappearing in Amsterdam, leading to an impoverishment of the public domain. Therefore, DUS wants to commemorate the ‘open’ windows that are still present in the city. We designed two mugs, together telling the tale of an urban treasure hunt in search of these windows.
The red xxx mug shows a map of Amsterdam marking the location of the windows, while also being a new take on the ancient city logo of Amsterdam, which bears three crosses, the simplest form of signage. The blue City-eyes mug shows a favourite selection of windows in the city. Together, they describe the complete story - as it takes two people (and as many mugs) for a tale to last and be remembered.
In the following weeks, several secretive events will be held behind the mug’s favourite windows. A festive event will be at Iittala's shop window (Flagshipstore, Leidsestraat, Amsterdam).
The website www.city-eyes.nl presents the urban treasure map, marking where the window events take place. As the project continues, the number of crosses on the website will gradually grow. All window events are miniature test cases, playing with the characteristics of the window as a screen between private and public space. This way, one’s private parquet will be part of the outdoor pavement for a moment, and the city becomes home.
The two special mugs will be for sale starting week 22 at the Iittala Flagshipstore - Leidsestraat 30 - Amsterdam.
Client: Iittala
Program: Amsterdam Mugs based on the classic Teema mug designed by Kaj Franck in 1952
Location: Iittala flagship store, Amsterdam
Phase: Realised 2008 - limited edition - sold out
Project team: Hans Vermeulen, Martine de Wit, Hedwig Heinsman