Press Release
Seda Palanduz and Merve Bahar Is Honored with the A' Design Award for Glare Glassware Series in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design
Seda Palanduz and Merve Bahar honored for bakeware, tableware, drinkware and cookware design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 30, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Glare Glassware Series by Seda Palanduz and Merve Bahar, designed for Kapp Industrial Kitchen Equipment, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design category. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the A' Design Award
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
More About Glare Glassware Series
Crystal reinterprets the visual language of cut glass through durable polypropylene, combining refined aesthetics with high performance usability. Its prismatic geometry interacts with light to create a jewel like brilliance, enhancing the sensory quality of drinkware. Developed for demanding hospitality environments, the design ensures safety, lightness, stackability without compromising elegance. The series includes five purpose specific typologies, each optimized for function while maintaining a cohesive visual identity, elevating plastic drinkware into a resilient solution.
About Seda Palanduz and Merve Bahar
Born in İzmir in 1985, I graduated as the top-ranked student from Yeditepe University, Department of Industrial Product Design in 2009, and completed a double major in Graphic Design in 2010. I gained five years of design and managerial experience at Valfsel (E.C.A.), a leading company in the building industry. My work has been featured in various media, and I have received more than ten national and international design awards. My early recognition includes exhibiting my “Marine” series at Milan Design Week (Zona Tortona).
Award Record
Seda Palanduz and Merve Bahar is a winner of 2 A' Design Awards, including this recognition. All of the awards belong to the 2025 - 2026 edition of the A' Design Award & Competition.
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/174694
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/174694
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!174694
- Laureate Profile: https://desingers.org/d/369467
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://palanduztasarim.com/
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Glare Glassware Series
- Function
- Glassware Series
- Category
- Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home and Food & Hospitality
- Colors
- Light Slate Gray, Light Steel Blue, Dark Gray, Gainsboro and Slate Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Kapp Industrial Kitchen Equipment
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Seda Palanduz and Merve Bahar
- Country
- Turkiye
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #174694
Credits
- Team
- Seda Palanduz, Merve Bahar and Delphine Gamze Heynen
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Glare reimagines the iconic crystal glass aesthetic through the advantages of polypropylene: lightweight, shatterproof, and highly durable. Its prismatic surface texture captures and refracts light, creating a refined, jewel-like visual effect that elevates the drinking experience. Designed for demanding, high-end HoReCa environments, Glare goes beyond functionality, transforming everyday beverage service into a memorable sensory experience. By focusing on the subtle details that define luxury, the series delivers a new standard where elegance meets resilience.
- Inspiration
- The Glare series draws inspiration from the dynamic interplay of light, geometry, and reflection. Architectural glass facades, rhythmic shadow patterns, and the refined brilliance of traditional cut crystal are reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. This visual language is translated into polypropylene, a material aligned with today’s fast-paced, flexible lifestyles, merging timeless elegance with modern practicality. The result is a design that responds directly to the HoReCa sector’s need for both aesthetic distinction and operational durability.
- Research
- The development process was driven by in-depth analysis of user behavior and operational needs within the HoReCa sector. Key focus areas included visual clarity, ergonomics, stackability, and durability. Multiple design iterations were explored through both hand sketching and advanced 3D modeling tools. Close collaboration with engineering teams ensured optimal mold performance, high surface quality, and precise light interaction resulting in a product that meets both aesthetic and industrial standards.
- Challenge
- One of the primary challenges was achieving a crystal-like optical effect using polypropylene, a material not traditionally associated with high light refraction. Balancing conflicting requirements such as transparency, prismatic clarity, durability, and impact resistance required an integrated design and engineering approach. Through iterative prototyping and precise mold development, a refined equilibrium between aesthetics, safety, and performance was successfully achieved.
- Realization and Technology
- The Glare series is manufactured using precision injection molding with high-quality, foodsafe polypropylene. Advanced mold engineering enables the creation of crystal-like optical effects, typically associated with glass, within a durable polymer structure. Despite its lightweight nature, the product offers high impact resistance, is dishwashersafe, and suitable for intensive industrial use. All components are fully recyclable and available in translucent color variations that enhance light interaction.
- Operation and Interaction
- Glare redefines beverage presentation through both performance and atmosphere. Its ergonomic form and non-slip prismatic surface ensure secure handling in fast-paced service environments. Lightweight construction improves mobility, while stackability enhances storage efficiency. Beyond functionality, Glare creates a distinctive ambiance: whether poolside, at beach venues, or exclusive events, it delivers the elegance of glass with the safety of polymer. Light reflections animate the liquid, transforming each drink into a visual highlight.
- Project Duration and Location
- TThe design process began in January 2024 in Izmir and was completed in April 2025. The product was subsequently launched under the Kapp brand.
- Specifications
- The series consists of five core typologies: Shot Glass – 60 ml / Ø 46–47 mm / H 70 mm Whiskey Glass – 300 ml / Ø 79–80 mm / H 95 mm Wine Glass – 350 ml / Ø 77–78 mm / H 192 mm Beer Glass – 600 ml / Ø 81–82 mm / H 165 mm Cocktail Glass – 350 ml / Ø 68–70 mm / H 160 mm All products are stackable (where applicable), lightweight, and optimized for professional service efficiency.
- Keywords
- Polypropylene Glass, HoReCa Tableware, Durable Drinkware, Shatterproof Glass, Luxury Barware, Light Refraction Design
