Oli: An Olive Bowl that Marries Aesthetics and Function

Miguel Pinto Félix's Innovative Design Wins Platinum A' Design Award

Miguel Pinto Félix's inspiration for Oli came from the olive tree and its products, which have always fascinated him. The name "Oli" is short for olive, a curvaceous and feminine fruit that conveys grace, lightness, joy, and sound. This name was chosen to make the product's understanding easier beyond borders.

Oli is a porcelain object, dyed black on the outside, and horizontally divided into two parts. The base serves olives, while the upper part is a container for the pits. The pits can be taken out through a removable lid, allowing the piece to be cleansed. This dual-purpose design enhances the olive eating experience by hiding the unsightly pits and adding a surprise element to the process.

The design process involved several drawings on paper, a paper mockup, and a digital 3D image on the computer. Two prototypes were made in PVC, and 3D impressions were made to decide the final form of Oli. The mould for the first Oli was produced from this 3D impression, using two different techniques: one in plaster and the other in silicone.

Oli is a ceramic object with a format of 110mm x 120 mm, a weight of 500 g, and a capacity of 300 ml. The choice of porcelain for this piece has to do with the value of the material itself and its usability, but also with the value it adds to the final result, both due to its organic aspect, the pure white, and the glaze that emerges from the firing.

The design project started in Porto in April 2011 and finished in November 2014. The research involved analysing the function and use of olive dishes, studying the object and the offers on the market. This research evolved over several months to reinforce the idea and ensure that nothing similar existed.

The main creative challenge was to combine aesthetics and function. One of the obstacles was to calculate and decide the capacity of the bowl. Another was the technical problem to calculate the hole that makes it possible to clean the pit's part of the bowl. Despite these challenges, Oli was conceived based on its function, with the idea of hiding the pits arising from a specific need.

For its innovative design and functionality, Oli was awarded Platinum in A' Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design Award in 2016. This award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that showcase unmatched professionalism, genius, and contribute to societal wellbeing. Awarded to the defining aesthetics of an era, they advance the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology, exhibiting transcendent excellence and making the world a better place.