Galactic Inspiration: The Icy Galaxy Ice Mold

Designers Ladan Zadfar and Mohammad Farshad's Unique Approach to Ice Mold Design

The inspiration for the Icy Galaxy came from nature, specifically the image of the Milky Way Galaxy. The designers noticed the similarity between the irregular globes and streaks that appear inside ice when water freezes and the image of the galaxy. They decided to use this natural phenomenon to create an ice mold that could represent a galaxy, offering a unique drinking experience.

The Icy Galaxy stands out from other ice molds in the market due to its unique form. While many designs focus on creating the clearest ice, Zadfar and Farshad intentionally highlighted the forms created by minerals in the freezing process. The result is a mold that creates a spiral spherical shape, reminiscent of a galaxy.

The mold, which can be used to make ice or other items like chocolate bars, cakes, and jelly, consists of two main parts. The most important piece is the silicone part, made from food-grade flexible silicon. A plastic frame holds the silicone part vertically. The designers conducted extensive research on different types of silicon and other materials to ensure the mold had the exact amount of flexibility needed to prevent deformation in the final product.

The Icy Galaxy offers several advantages over other ice molds. Its special form allows it to freeze faster, and the spiral shape provides a larger contact surface with the drink, cooling it more quickly. Additionally, the design uses less water to create ice balls of the same size.

The design process was not without challenges. The most difficult aspect was designing a mold with the correct cutting point that could be used easily and produce the expected form without trouble. The selection of material also posed a challenge, requiring extensive research on different types of silicon and other materials to achieve the desired results.

The Icy Galaxy is a testament to the power of nature as a source of inspiration and the potential of design to transform natural defects into beautiful effects. It offers a unique drinking experience, with a piece of ice that not only cools the drink but also stirs the imagination.