Sasha Lantukh

How small design decisions flood everyday life

January 16, 2026

Had anything worse ever happened in the history of humankind than picking up a freshly dishwashed cup from the top rack, only to get splattered by water pooled in its bottom ridges—over yourself and dry dishes below?

I get it—manufacturing constraints, airflow, stability, stacking—but none of that matters to me. I don’t run a café, and my cups aren’t meant to line up in perfect, identical stacks. My home is a semi-curated collection: travel mementos, historical leftovers, and fancy artisan pieces.

Well-designed mass-produced mugs usually solve this with shallow grooves or tiny drainage “chips” at the bottom. Artisan or “premium” cups? Often completely flat. Both work perfectly fine—if done thoughtfully.

What’s truly annoying is when a high-end brand omits drainage grooves yet still charges a premium. That’s a deliberate choice: profit over human experience.

Here’s a simple rule for mugs in the home market: either make the bottom smooth, or include ridges with proper drainage. Half-measures only create friction—and frustration.

Where’s the EU regulation when you really need it?

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