Everyday Usability 2 – Cup handle

Everyday Usability 2 – Cup handle

Cups are an everyday object. Innovative designs can turn the experience of drinking coffee or tea into a special event. Unfortunately, a visual pleasing design might make it difficult to drink. Enjoy this example of everyday usability.

During a visit to a cafe I discovered this charming design of a coffee cup. It is a small coffee cup. Fitting to the beverage, the cup’s handle is formed like a coffee bean. In the photo below you can see the design.

However, whereas the design was visually pleasing it was difficult to hold the cup. A first limitation to use was the size of the handle. I have quite skinny fingers, but even holding the handle with them made it feel small. A second limitation resulted from the fact that it was not possible to put a finger through the handle (there was no hole big enough). I had to hold the cup by pressing thumb and index finger together (each on one a side of the handle). Consequently, more force than usually was required to hold the cup and it did not feel comfortable – it felt like the cup could slip at any moment. In the end the design was visually pleasing but not a good example for everyday usability.

Everyday usability: a coffee cup with handle in form of a coffee bean
coffee cup with handle in form of a coffee bean
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