128 PANTONE Mugs by Onkar Singh Kular

Onkar Singh Kular
128 Pantone Mugs, 2003

What happens when the consumer has so many possibilities from which to choose that he can no longer decide?

Onkar Singh Kular’s 128 PANTONE Mugs, also known as Perfect Cuppa Cup, turns making tea into a simple colour-matching game. The collection features 128 china mugs in shades ranging from creamy beige to deep brown, each representing a different balance of tea and milk.

Instead of explaining how strong or milky you like your drink, you simply choose the mug that matches your perfect brew. Designed in 2003, the project transforms an ordinary household object into a playful communication tool while reflecting on personal taste and the overwhelming amount of choice in everyday life.

The collection was presented in Milan in 2003 as part of Droog’s Your Choice exhibition. The project took a playful look at the decisions hiding behind everyday shopping: why we choose one brand, price, or version over another, and when an exciting range of possibilities simply becomes too much.

Later, 128 Pantone Mugs were displayed as an installation at the Kunsthal Museum in Rotterdam.

*Some of the images from onkarkular.com