Episode 130: Cups, Plates and Trophy Design

In this episode of Two Designers Walk Into A Bar, hosts Elliot and Todd dive into the fascinating history and symbolism behind iconic sports trophies, focusing on why so many are shaped like cups, plates, and dishes. They explore the origins of trophies as spoils of war—ranging from severed heads to captured armor—and trace their evolution into ceremonial objects like the Wimbledon Venus Rosewater Dish and the Stanley Cup. The discussion reveals how cultural values, gender norms, and historical design traditions shaped these awards, with the Wimbledon women's trophy (a silver salver) reflecting 19th-century domestic ideals, while the Stanley Cup’s ever-growing, engraved base symbolizes decades of hockey history. The hosts also uncover quirky details: the Stanley Cup is not a single trophy but three distinct versions, with the original retired in 1970; the current presentation cup travels with winning teams for 24 hours, becoming a makeshift baptismal font, cereal bowl, or even a prop in an Apple store. The episode blends humor, historical depth, and design insight to celebrate these objects as living artifacts of legacy and community. Key takeaways include: trophies evolved from war spoils into symbolic vessels of celebration; the Stanley Cup’s modular design allows it to grow over time with engraved rings; winning teams get to keep the Cup for just one day; and design choices like the salver or rosewater dish reflect deeper cultural values. The episode underscores how physical objects like trophies carry emotional weight, historical continuity, and shared identity across generations.