This past summer, we invited designers featured in Making Ideas: Experiments in Design at GlassLab to come to the Museum for public design performances. Designer Wendell Castle lives in New York State, but the first time he worked with GlassLab was actually in Germany. “My first session with Glasslab was at Vitra Design Museum in Germany, which I found quite enjoyable and I thought was successful from a design perspective,” said Castle. “This second time, my hope was to build upon what I had learned before. The studio sessions went even better than I had anticipated and I came out with a wealth of new knowledge about the process.”
Designer Wendell Castle at GlassLab
Castle decided to continue focusing on his designs for martini glassware. “My designs for martini glasses were basically simple: Utilize a traditional glass shape at the top to hold the beverage and allow the base or stem to serve as the sculptural element. However, this proved not so simple to implement in glass. My GlassLab team, G Brian Juk and Chris Rochelle, were up to the task.”
Drawing and model for Wendell Castle's design at GlassLab in Corning NY, June 19-20, 2012.
“The results were fantastic, amounting in 4 working prototypes. Being part of the Museum’s design sessions has been a wonderful experience and I hope to have the opportunity again soon.”
Gaffer Chris Rochelle and designer Wendell Castle discuss the ellipsoid martini glass design at GlassLab.
More images from this summer’s design performances, as well as designer bios, process videos, design drawings, prototypes and more are available on the web-based GlassLab app at cmog.org/glasslab.
Making Ideas: Experiments in Design at GlassLab is on view at the Museum through January 6, 2013.