The design that springs to mind as my favourite is the classic glass coke bottle. Although it has evolved throughout the years, the bottle originally designed in 1915 and known as the "contour bottle" by Coke employees, the bottle has retained its elegant flowing curves. The form of the bottle, aided by the iconic graphic design we have all come to recognise by colour palette alone, has become an international symbol of capitalism, the United States and consumer culture.
The form of the original prototype was based on an image of a cocoa pod, taking the strong contours and incorporating them into an orthodox bottle form. However this prototype was too wide around the middle, so this diameter was reduced and this went into production as the first coke bottle. Throughout the decades, the design evolved. The embossed trademark was replaced with a printed one, and then a red background was added, and so forth, until the bottle we have today.
Although coke is now also sold in plastic bottles of various sizes, and cans, the glass bottle remains the most attractive in my opinion. The glass bottle is thicker than the plastic ones, and as such has a nicer feeling of weight and some interesting internal reflections and refractions. The glass bottle also seems more permanent: where an empty plastic bottle is trash, I always hesitate to throw away a glass one. This feeling belies a truth, the glass bottles will in fact last longer, and preserve the coke better, as the gas cannot escape as quickly over long periods of time. Glass is a better conductor of heat, and therefore it feels colder to the touch. This also means you will see more perspiration on the bottle, running down the contours, which is an appetising visual.
After adapting to almost a hundred years as the delivery method of one of the world's favourite drinks, and also becoming an internationally recognised symbol of the Coca Cola brand, Coke's glass "contour bottle" deserves recognition as a successful example of good design.
Scott Everitt
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Also, check out this student project I found aimed at reducing the environmental effects of coke bottles:
http://www.looks.gd/design/amazing-student-designed-coke-bottle-design
Thought it was pretty well done
The Coke always tastes a little different out of a glass bottle compared to a plastic one i think. Also found out that the shape of a VB stubby holds the cooler temperature for longer due to less surface area.
ReplyDeleteBen P
I totally agree Ben, Coke from a glass bottle tastes better. Do you find it warms up too quickly without a stubby holder? That would make sense. Good thinking, by the way.
ReplyDeleteScott
Nice observation of the 'perspiration' on the glass bottle as an appealing factor. I know what you mean, I recently kept a Bickfords Creamy Soda glass bottle because for some reason it seemed to have a higher value than plastic or aluminium, in my mind.
ReplyDeleteCynthia Tang