Mountaineer’s Tea Set
October-November 2025
Duration: 5 weeks
Project Description:
Choose a traditional drink from any culture. Choose a situation or event. Design a coffee or tea set to the specifications of the chosen situation. I chose Masala Chai and the summit of a mountain after a hike, respectively.
Project Goals
A few details I focused on during the design process were the texture and color of materials, overall product weight, compactness, and ease of use. I desired a functional, aesthetic, and usable tea set that could serve multiple purposes on a long and vertical hike.
Total number of components: 28
Materials used: Black stainless steel, bead-blasted aluminum, silicone, wood veneer
Total weight: 13.02 lbs.
The Hike
JOURNEY MAPS
The Drink on The Hike
The Drink
2D IDEATION
2D EXPLORATION
3D EXPLORATION
Cardboard models defined size, shape, and usability. This was one of three cardboard sets.
Set #2
Set #3
Bristol paper models refined my final design direction. Components include: pan, heat shield, strainer, cup, and Sterno can (heat source).
Testing usability
Testing usability
FINAL 3D MODELS
Pan - central container of kit & heating vessel for tea
Heat shield - protects user and other components from direct heat of Sterno can
Lid - holds components in place from top when kit is compact
Silicone mold - holds components in place from bottom when kit is compact
Strainer - removes solid ingredients from tea when poured through
Cup (2x) - vessel for strained tea
Cup veneer (2x) - protects user from heat transfer of tea
Bottle bottom - the base of the four-part bottle
Bottle bottom veneer
Bottle middle - the connecting piece between the top and bottom of the four-part bottle
Bottle middle veneer
Bottle top - the top of the four-part bottle
Bottle top veneer
Bottle lid - the screw-on cap to the four-part bottle
Silicone spacer #1 - holds components in place when kit is compact
Silicone spacer #2 - holds components in place when kit is compact
Silicone spacer #3 - holds components in place when kit is compact
Lock - holds handle in place when connected to the pan for cooking
Lock casing - holds the lock against the pan
Lid lock (pan) (2x) - holds the lid on when kit is compact
Lid lock bar (2x)
Lid lock (lid) (2x)
Hiking stick
Handle - detaches from hiking stick to act as pan handle for cooking
Hiking stick mesh grip
Handle mesh grip
Rubber pole tip
Sterno can - heat source
How To Use
Disassemble the kit
Set up the heat shield over the lit Sterno can
Place the pan on top and attach the handle from the hiking pole to the pan
Be sure to lock the handle in place
Pour ingredients into the pan and bring to a simmer; let cook
Pour tea from the pan into the cup, through the strainer
Enjoy!
Black stainless steel: used for all components that could come into contact with direct flames due to heat resistance
Bead-blasted aluminum: used for all other metal components to keep weight down while providing a contrasting texture to steel
Silicone: used as an insulator as well as a protective surface for components while stored
Walnut wood: used as a veneer for aesthetics and to pull in the environment around the user
FINALS
MATERIALITY
Customization
hardware is customized to enhance functionality, usability, and efficiency
the heat shield is designed to nest inside the pan when in the kit
the strainer fits both perfectly around the Sterno can when stored and inside the cup when in use
the mini bottle is large enough to hold all the necessary liquid for the tea, but small enough to fit inside the kit when disassembled
