Plane And Concave: Water Storage Tea Tray

A Simplicity and Lightweight Design by ChengHua Pan and GuoKun Wang

The inspiration for the Plane And Concave tea tray came from the designers' desire to create a tea tray that is both simple and fashionable. Traditional stone tea trays are often bulky and more suitable for professional tea-making spaces, limiting their use in other scenarios. ChengHua Pan and GuoKun Wang aimed to design a tea tray that is lightweight, versatile, and can be integrated into various use scenarios. By combining different materials and focusing on a light-simplicity design style, they have created a tea tray that caters to the needs of a wider audience.

One of the unique features of the Plane And Concave tea tray is its water level indication system. The concave part of the disc surface is positioned at exactly 3/4 of the height of the metal water-storage tray. When the water capacity reaches 3/4, the tea will overflow from the drainage hole, prompting the user to pour the tea. This innovative design ensures that the user can easily monitor the water level and avoid any spillage.

The tea tray is designed to have two functional areas. One side of the tray surface is used for making tea, while the other side is used for placing cups, achieving the function of separating wet from dry. This design feature enhances the user experience by keeping the tea-making area separate from the cup placement area, ensuring cleanliness and convenience.

The Plane And Concave tea tray is made using advanced manufacturing techniques. The black gold stone, a natural material, is processed using CNC technology, while the metal water-storage chassis is created through die casting. The combination of these materials and production methods results in a tea tray that is not only visually appealing but also durable and functional.

With dimensions of 330mm*330*40, the Plane And Concave tea tray is designed to meet the demands of tea enthusiasts. The black gold stone's high density and temperature resistance make it suitable for frequent pouring of hot water during tea-making. The aluminum water-storage chassis offers diverse surface treatments, creating a variety of visual styles.

The Plane And Concave tea tray was developed by a team of designers, including ChengHua Pan, Gang Wang, and Guo Kun Wang. Their collaborative efforts and expertise in tea-making needs, behavior habits, and product processing techniques have resulted in a tea tray that combines functionality and aesthetics.

This innovative design project started in March 2019 in XiaMen and was completed in May 2019. It was later exhibited in Shanghai in September 2019, showcasing its unique features and design. The Plane And Concave tea tray has also been recognized for its excellence and received the Iron A' Design Award in the Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware, and Cookware Design category in 2020.

The Plane And Concave tea tray is a testament to the designers' commitment to creating unique and functional designs that enhance the tea-making experience. Its simplicity, lightweight nature, and innovative features make it a standout piece in the world of tea trays.