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ILILI Dining Set, 2025

A tabletop collection exploring Lebanese communal dining through material, cultural patterns, and the rituals of sharing food and tea.

Rituals of Eating & Drinking is a tabletop collection designed for ilili, a Lebanese restaurant in New York City. The project explores how tableware can reconnect contemporary dining with the cultural rituals of sharing food, eating communally, and gathering around the table.

Through research into Lebanese food culture, architecture, traditional craft, and the restaurant's existing identity, I developed a collection that brings together communal serving pieces, individual plates, and a tea set. The project also includes two menus designed to complement the dining experience: a Mezza menu and a Tea Time menu.

DESIGN DRIVER

My research into ilili and its menu led me to explore the relationship between traditional Lebanese dining and contemporary restaurant experiences. I became interested in how the communal aspects of eating, including sharing dishes and eating with your hands, could be reflected in a modern tabletop collection.

Rather than designing each piece only for individual use, I wanted the tableware to encourage sharing and interaction. The collection became an opportunity to consider how the objects we eat from and serve with can shape the way we gather, connect, and experience food.

CULTURAL & VISUAL INSPIRATION

The visual direction draws from the architectural and decorative details of Lebanon, including windows, arches, fountains, teacups, and traditional patterns. These references informed the shapes, colours, and surface details developed across the collection.

For the tabletop pieces, I looked to Lebanese niello inlay and traditional coppersmithing, as well as the geometric patterns found in Lebanese cement tiles. Tile designs from BlattChaya, a Lebanese cement tile manufacturer, became a key reference for the engraved patterns on the metal pieces.

The menus were designed as an extension of this visual language, bringing together architectural motifs, cultural references, and the identity of ilili. Research into the restaurant's logo and typography, including the use of Nib by Colophon Foundry, helped inform the menu design and its relationship to the existing brand.

THE COLLECTION

The collection is divided into two complementary dining experiences: a Mezza menu and a Tea Time menu. Each is supported by a set of tableware designed to reflect the rituals and materials associated with Lebanese dining.

Mezza Collection

The metal collection includes one large communal plate, two smaller mezza plates, and a dessert bowl. Inspired by Lebanese niello inlay and traditional metalworking, the pieces combine engraved patterns with dark inlay details and warm brown-brass tones.

The metal pieces were shaped through a combination of laser-printed pattern transfer, hammering, and surface finishing. Patterns were transferred onto the metal before being hammered into form, while a Japanese brown patina was applied to create a warm, aged finish along the rims.

The dessert bowl was developed as a folded flower-like form with a flat base, combining a sculptural silhouette with the functionality of a serving vessel.

Tea Time Collection

The tea set includes four teacups and one teapot, inspired by Lebanese pottery traditions. Drawing from handmade terracotta vessels such as fnejin cups and ibrik pitchers, the collection explores the warmth and familiarity of sharing tea.

The tea set was constructed from clay slabs, which were shaped by hand into cups and a teapot. The surfaces were painted with acrylic colours inspired by Lebanese decorative traditions and artworks, bringing a more expressive, handcrafted quality to the ceramic pieces.

MENUS & DINING EXPERIENCE

The Mezza and Tea Time menus were designed to work alongside the physical collection, creating a more cohesive dining experience. Drawing from Lebanese architecture, colour palettes, and decorative patterns, the menus connect the visual identity of the restaurant with the forms and surfaces of the tableware.

Together, the menus and tabletop pieces create a unified experience that celebrates sharing food, gathering around the table, and the rituals of eating and drinking.

DRAWINGS

©2025, Trishikha Iyer Studios