Press Release
Unico Multifunctional Wine Stopper by Mauro di Girolamo and Tommaso Marzolini Is Granted the Bronze A' Design Award in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design
Mauro di Girolamo and Tommaso Marzolini acknowledged for bakeware, tableware, drinkware and cookware design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 23, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Unico Multifunctional Wine Stopper by Mauro di Girolamo and Tommaso Marzolini, designed for Pour Different, has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design category. The recognition forms part of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Bronze A' Design Award
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
About Unico Multifunctional Wine Stopper
Unico is a multifunctional wine stopper redefining wine accessories with six integrated features. In addition to being a drip-free pourer, flow reducer, and instant wine aerator, it introduces three exclusive innovations: Easy Open for effortless use, Safety Stop to prevent spills, and an NFC enabled stand for access to ever-evolving wine-related content. Produced via SLS 3D printing, it allows rapid customization, even for small batches, ensuring unique designs with fast production times.
About Mauro di Girolamo and Tommaso Marzolini
Exceed Lab is an independent design-driven company founded by Tommaso Marzolini, with Mauro Di Girolamo as strategic consultant. The company explores the intersection between functionality, user experience, and material experimentation, developing products and systems across different sectors. Its approach is rooted in research, iterative prototyping, and close collaboration with manufacturers. Exceed Lab has received international recognition and participates in exhibitions, competitions, and educational initiatives. Through its projects, the company contributes to discussions on everyday innovation and sustainable product design.
Award Record
With this recognition, Mauro di Girolamo and Tommaso Marzolini is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design Award
The A' Kitchenware Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good kitchenware designs by best kitchenware brands and designers worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to kitchenware designers, product designers, industrial design studios and kitchenware brands from all countries. Entries typically include pots, pans, cutlery, plates, bowls and glasses. Awarded kitchenware designs are published at https://desingers.org/design-category/kitchenware
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://desingers.org/168486
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/168486
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!168486
- Laureate Profile: https://desingers.org/d/363801
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://bit.ly/41iKXqX
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
###
Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Unico Multifunctional Wine Stopper
- Function
- Multifunctional Wine Stopper
- Category
- Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home and Food & Hospitality
- Colors
- Dark Slate Gray, Dim Gray, Light Gray, Dark Gray and Silver
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Pour Different
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Mauro di Girolamo and Tommaso Marzolini
- Country
- Italy
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #168486
Credits
- Team
- Mauro Di Girolamo and Tommaso Marzolini
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Unico combines six functions in a single solution. In addition to being a drip-free pourer, flow reducer, and instant wine aerator, it introduces three exclusive innovations: Easy Open, allowing you to open and close the bottle without removing it; Safety Stop, the first system that seals the bottle in case of accidental tipping; and a smart stand with integrated NFC, providing access to exclusive wine-related content simply by bringing your smartphone close.
- Inspiration
- Unico is not only an elegant synthesis of innovation but a tribute to the essence of wine itself. Inspired by its deep cultural heritage and the rituals of sharing, Unico enhances both the serving and tasting experience while fostering the exchange of knowledge and stories about wine. Every design choice reflects the fluidity and refinement of wine, blending tradition and technology into a seamless interaction that connects people through a shared passion.
- Research
- The research began with a market analysis to understand wine enthusiasts' needs and accessory limitations. The goal was to create a multifunctional stopper without compromising aesthetics or practicality. Using an iterative approach with tests and simulations, we optimized design and functionality. Surveys, sommelier interviews, and user testing validated comfort and efficiency. The integrated NFC enhances interactivity, impacting product innovation and functional design evolution.
- Challenge
- The project was conceived with the ambition of integrating all the most sought-after functions in the industry into a single tool. Its functional complexity and intricate geometries were made possible through laser sintering 3D printing. In addition to reducing production waste by over 40% compared to traditional manufacturing methods, this technology is the only one capable of creating the complex internal geometries that would otherwise be impossible to achieve.
- Realization and Technology
- Unico was developed through an iterative design process combining advanced engineering, digital fabrication, and user-centered research. Produced via SLS 3D printing, it integrates PA12 nylon, food-grade silicone, stainless steel, and neodymium magnets for durability and performance. 3D printing enables rapid customization, even for small batches, allowing unique designs tailored to specific needs. All this is complemented by NFC integration, enhancing interactivity and making Unico a wine stopper bridging tradition and innovation.
- Operation and Interaction
- Once applied to the bottle, Unico opens and closes with a simple half-turn, allowing pouring without removal. The same motion resets it if the Safety Stop is activated. During pouring, it instantly aerates the wine. After use, a 180-degree turn allows full disassembly for deep cleaning, even in the dishwasher. Its interactive stand acts as both a support and a gateway to expertly curated, AI-enhanced wine content, simply by bringing your smartphone close.
- Project Duration and Location
- Born in Florence in December 2023, the project was recognized among the best Italian design projects of 2024 by the ADI Design Index, earning a nomination for the Compasso d’Oro 2026. It was exhibited at the ADI Design Museum in Milan and Spazio WeGil in Rome between October and November 2024. Unico is also the winner of the 2025 Global Design Awards in Hong Kong. Developed through extensive research and innovation, it embodies a balance of functionality and aesthetics, setting a new standard in contemporary design and redefining the user experience.
- Specifications
- Length 25 mm Width 25 mm Height 100 mm
- Keywords
- stopper, winestopper, winetool, wine
