For the final project of Object Experiments, we designed water bottles for a chosen context. I chose to design mine for the greek philospher Socrates, to use as he was sentenced to death. The bottle would contain a small amount of water and hemlock, which would mix as he tips the bottle to drink from it.

 

Every aspect of the bottle was carefully considered. I analysed the forms of typical drinking vessels used during Socrates' time, eventually settling on a form that mimics the shape of a greek kylix. The last letter of the greek alphabet, theta, was repeated throughout the design as the symbol was often used to represent endings or death.

The drinking vessel is made from vaccum-formed plastic, while the lid is a conex 3D print with a vaccum-metaliser copper detail.

 

As you can see above, the poison flow through a small slit in the partition when the cup was tipped. This alludes to Greek drinking games, which had special special shallow bowls called kraters. When tipped, a picture was revealed to the drinker. I made this tipping action very deliberate as Socrates agreed to take his own life - he knew that he could not be excepted from Greek law.

 

Below are sketches, models and renders from the development process.