September, 2007
ABSOLUT VODKA PROUDLY PRESENTS ABSOLUT GRCIC:
Konstantin Grcic designs a glass series for ABSOLUT VODKA
When ABSOLUT VODKA wanted a series of glasses featuring a design that is independent of time, ABSOLUT VODKA turned to the well known German industrial designer Konstantin Grcic, one of today’s most innovative designers. The result is ABSOLUT GRCIC - the new glass series from ABSOLUT VODKA that will brighten up bars and shops all over the world.
Konstantin Grcic was born in Munich in 1965. After graduating from Royal College of Art in London, he returned to his hometown to start the KGID studio. The successes stories with the lamp MAYDAY and the chair_ONE gave him the reputation of being one of the most intriguing designers of our time. Grcic has received a number of awards and been working with leading design companies like Muji, Krups, Magis, Flos and Plank. To add ABSOLUT to that list was not a difficult decision. This is the first time Konstantin Grcic cooperates with strong beverage brand. The result of this cooperation with ABSOLUT is a completely new glass series – ABSOLUT GRCIC.
“ABSOLUT has established strong values from the beginning and continued building on them with consistency and consequence. They have a kind of design affinity, a unique and progressive way of saying things. This assured me we could do something sophisticated, that the glasses didn’t have to shout out loud, this is why the collaboration with ABSOLUT has been so appealing,” says Konstantin Grcic.
ABSOLUT GRCIC gets its inspiration from the iconic shape of the ABSOLUT VODKA bottle. Without referring to or competing with the bottle, Konstantin wanted to capture the distinctive expression of the bottle. The glasses were designed with function in mind, and the ABSOLUT logo has been subtly incorporated in the foot of the glass.
“We have worked with artists and designers in many fields before this, but this is the first time we have worked with an industrial designer and no previous collaboration has ever resulted in an entirely new product like the one we are introducing now. We are really honoured to present ABSOLUT GRCIC as a part of the ABSOLUT family,” says Katarina Nielsen, International Marketing Director at V&S Absolut Spirits.
Design has been a vital part of the ABSOLUT brand since the beginning, and has continued to be a source of inspiration. In 1979, ABSOLUT VODKA introduced the now iconic bottle. The original design was by the design team of Carlsson & Broman. They created a bottle that went on to change the spirits shelves at bars and restaurants all over the world for many years to come. And this has inspired many creative people and led to collaborations with, among others, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, Tom Ford and David Cameron.
The ABSOLUT GRCIC series consists of Long drink glass, Rocks glass, Cocktail glass with stem, and Shot glass.