Bamirla: Tableware with a Cause

Emese Orbán's Innovative Design Supports Children's Camp

Orbán's design inspiration came from her experiences as an arts and crafts program holder at the camp. She noticed how much joy and confidence children gained from creating something on their own. With Bamirla, she sought to encapsulate the spirit of the camp through rounded, playful shapes, vibrant colors, and a touch of arts and crafts. The tableware pieces also serve as keepsakes for the volunteers and children, featuring unique symbols understood only by participants.

What sets Bamirla apart is its association with the Hungarian Bator Tabor, a camp for children with chronic illnesses. The design was created to support the camp and its mission. The tableware pieces are made of porcelain using the slip casting method and are glazed for a polished finish. Two different decor types are used, both under the glaze. Houses, representing the children's accommodations - one of the main scenes of the camp - are formed and attached to the surfaces. Carving methods are also used for decorations.

The technical specifications of the design include dimensions of the cup at 85mm (diameter) x 93mm, the bowl at 143mm (diameter) x 70mm, and the plate at 190mm (diameter) x 24mm. The tableware is designed to support healthy eating habits, which the camp also promotes. This is reflected in their dimensions, which are adapted to the eat-less-more-often practice. The design of the cup, without a handle, is a safety measure as hot drinks are not served in the camp. The decor houses stand out of the surface of the products to prevent slipping out of the users' hand.

The project, which started in October 2016 in Budapest, required Orbán to learn how to work with porcelain, a material she had not worked with before. She also conducted research on the food served in the camp to determine the types of tableware products to design. The decorations chosen refer to the camp, including the logo of the camp, the children's accommodations, and the graphics of the houses.

Bamirla's unique design and its mission to support a children's camp have not gone unnoticed. The design was awarded Silver in A' Public Awareness, Volunteerism, and Society Design Award in 2017. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.