Made with environmentally friendly recycled material, ACTIVE BOTTLE has a transparency like glass while being durable. We interviewed product designer Shin Azumi about his inspiration and design process behind the collection.

Is there an image or user scenario that inspired your design?
I imagined a person with a skateboard tucked under one arm, coming down the street with a spring in their step. In their free hand – a water bottle. This is the bottle that I have tried to create.
A clear cylinder full of water, like a lens, is a beautiful object in itself. So I thought it would be better to give it a sturdy straightforward design rather than an overly decorative one. The hard linear design is a continuation of the TRAVEL TUMBLER, the first stainless steel tumbler I ever designed. For ACTIVE BOTTLE, I started with the larger 950ml. For the 600ml size, I actually changed the proportions so that it is shorter and stouter to make it look rugged but charming.

What were your main considerations in designing the ACTIVE BOTTLE?
I always put my designs forward with the hope that by pushing the boundaries of existing industrial manufacturing technology, we have the possibility of achieving a new mode of expression.
This bottle uses a transparent material, which means that the inner structure is visible through the exterior. I worked hard to make the bumps and dips on the inside look attractive, and hide those industrial details that I could not beautify.
Also, to achieve durability and ease of maintenance, we shaped the handle and the plastic parts with a single mold. I am especially grateful for the high level of technical expertise and the tenacity shown by the team to adjust this until it was just right.

What was the most difficult part of the design?
I was careful to make no compromises on usability and comfort when it comes to drinking. In addition, I spent a lot of time on the handle design to make sure it is easy to carry. The bottle being relatively big and wide, it can be quite heavy when it is filled with water. So I chose a flexible material, experimented with the shape to make it comfortable to hold, adjusted the method and placement of the joint so the bottle is easily controlled with your fingertips and doesn’t jump around when you walk.
These are all details that I think the users will not notice – unless it causes discomfort. And I think this is the sign of a good design, when people “don’t even notice”.

How would you like users to enjoy this bottle?
I hope it will be used regularly and without ceremony, as a reliable tool to quench thirst. If one day I cross paths with a person coming down the street with a spring in their step carrying an ACTIVE BOTTLE full of water, that would make me very happy.

DESIGNER PROFILE
Shin Azumi
Established ‘a studio’ in 2005 in London, UK. His design works include consumer products, furniture, lighting, electronics and audio equipments as well as spatial design for shops, restaurants, and exhibitions. Since 2016, he is taking the professorship at Hosei University, Faculty of Engineering and Design, in Japan.
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