Coffee – the universal beverage of early-risers, afternoon break-takers, and evening social butterflies everywhere – is irresistible. The coffee break is ubiquitous, and for those seeking respite from the daily grind, it is a cherished ritual.
To capture and celebrate the daily experience, Design Exchange, Canada’s design museum, in partnership with Nespresso, invites designers, artists, architects, engineers, inventors, and innovators at professional and post-secondary levels to rethink, rework, and re-imagine the conventional coffee break.
Grand Cru-ation challenges entrants from Ontario and Quebec to submit a proposal for an aluminum structure that facilitates interaction during moments of rest, and incorporate a small recycling receptacle for the countertop to encourage the recycling of Nespresso’s capsules.
The proposals should invite people from all walks of life to sit back, relax, and enjoy their surroundings. Structures should promote connection and conversation among the chaos of people coming and going, en route to their next destinations – be it a meeting, social outing, or new city. With design function and aesthetic in mind, structures should be carefully cruated to communicate freshness using recycled materials. Entrants are encouraged to get creative and brew designs that are original and thought-provoking to passersby.
Winning designs will be fabricated and unveiled at Toronto’s revitalized Union Station in Fall 2016 – serving as a landmark for conversation and connection among the comings and goings of people in the city’s downtown core. Following the Toronto exhibition, the winning object will be sent to Montreal where it will also be on display in early 2017.
Proposals will be juried by a panel of award-winning experts at the forefront of design and architecture in Ontario and Quebec. They include:
For further competition details, including proposal submission guidelines, please click here.