I'm a ceramic product designer working on tablewares and home decor. I operate two distinct studios that honor the craft of ceramics. Corbé is a bespoke, high-end atelier that designs and handcrafts individual pieces out of porcelain. Lark is a consultation and product based studio that designs large market items and works with the finest factories to bring wares to market. I've got a healthy obsession with handles. Even before the coffee is ready I'm analyzing the negative space in the handles of cupboard's mug options; is it a two or three finger day (almost never a one). Pre-pour, with both hands bringing it down to the counter top, I'm noticing the weight of the empty vessel and feeling the foot; is it raised or surface level, any surprises underneath that I can't see, fully glazed or tactilely bare and inviting, is this stoneware or porcelain, sanded or rough? Once the coffee has made it into the mug, balance and weight are key towards achieving morning mug satisfaction. Try a couple different finger combos, does it cause pain or pressure? Are my fingers far enough away from the body of the mug to prevent them from getting hot? Can I walk around the house with my daughter in one arm and hold the coffee in the other without a finger going numb?It's all in the handle.I approach new projects with the same way that I select my morning coffee mug: detailed analysis of every aspect. Each iteration is a pathway for the next.