1. Cat Tea Infuser
Visually this cat tea infuser glass is designed well because it has the comical appearance that the cat has ate the fish and its now in its stomach, but interestingly the fish also has a practical use. The head clips off so that you can insert the tea leaves, and it has gaps big enough to allow the leaves to infuse in the water but not enough for them to escape to ensure you don’t swallow them. There is also a gap for the fish’s mouth so that once you remove the lid, you can pour any remaining liquid from the fish back into your drink.
The fish is attached to the inside of the lid which makes it easy to remove. The cat ears, whilst aesthetically pleasing and helping to identify the animal as a cat, also balances the lid at an angle once turned upside down so that no liquid is spilt onto your table. The pointedness of the ears also makes it easy to pick up. The lid also acts as a handy cover like with takeaway cups, making it less likely for spillages to occur. The tail is a good design because again, it helps to identify the animal as a cat, but mostly stops you from burning your hands on the glass.
I consider this item a great design because of all the above reasons and, if you’re a fellow cat lover like myself then it is a very novel and cute thing to have in your possession.
2. Ramune Bottle
Ramune is a well-loved Japanese carbonated soft drink. The drink comes with a green plastic opener that you must separate from its attachment. The opener then fits over the lip of the Ramune lid where the carbonated glass ball is. You then need to press firmly down with the palm of your hand (best on a surface) in order to pop the ball out. Whilst opening the bottle can sometimes be a bit tricky (especially in public), it is very satisfying once you hear the ‘pop’ and know you’ll be getting a nice refreshing drink as a reward.
The bottles are not only easy to grip due to the indentation on the neck and designated indentations to rest your thumb, but also this mainly serves the purpose of keeping the glass ball in place as the gap is too narrow for it to reach the bottom of the bottle. This means that the drink only becomes carbonated once it is tilted up to your mouth to drink, and so it will stay fizzy as opposed to a standard bottle that would lose its fizz throughout the course of the day. Once opened, although not a permanent lid you can use the green opener like a stopper as it slots nicely inside the hole, and ensures you don’t forget it is open.
The unique design not only serves functional purposes but benefits the company’s sales as they stand out from standard bottles and will stick in the consumer’s mind.
3. Water Bottle
This 500ml water bottle is the perfect size for carrying in your bag. The visual design is very simple which doesn’t detract from the functionality. It comes with a removable filter that is nicely slotted inside so that you have the option of infusing fruit or tea into the water. The silicone sealing plug on the inside prevents leaking. It has a simple mechanism to flip open the lid and this is also lockable to ensure that it doesn’t accidentally open and leak whilst it is in your bag.
As the bottle is slim enough it is very easy to pick up and fits perfectly in your hand, however it also has a carry handle if you wanted to hold it like that or attached it to something. On the back of the bottle, it has helpful time markers to remind you to stay hydrated throughout the day, along with a few motivational words. Once you reach the end it then tells you to refill so that you are meeting the required amount of water you should be drinking each day, around 1-2 litres.
I like this design because I think it’s the perfect size. You can get some very over the top 2litre bottles which are impossible to take outside with you due to the size and weight of the water. This 500ml bottle is much more transportable and is easy enough to just refill once you’ve finished.