New York-based designer Kickie Chudikova worked with cannabis brand Gossamer to develop The Nesting Set, a glass ashtray, pipe and one-hitter that can be integrated stylishly into a user's home.
The company, founded in 2017 by David Weiner and Verena von Pfetten, asked Chudikova to help it create a set of accessories that could offer a more refined and premium experience than other smoking products currently on the market.
The Nesting Set comprises a lidded ashtray, standing pipe and matching one-hitter (a slender pipe designed for a single inhalation of smoke). The items are all made from soda lime glass and borosilicate glass in a minty green hue that aligns with the brand's visual identity.
The set was designed to be functional, sculptural and timeless so that it can sit comfortably in a wide range of interiors without obviously signalling its purpose.
"We wanted to create a modern, beautiful and functional home object that would appeal to a wide audience even beyond people who like to smoke weed," Gossamer's creative director Verena Michelitsch told Dezeen.
Michelitsch added that the design process focused on three key objectives: multi-functionality; desirability for an audience that appreciates design and craft; and timeless aesthetics to ensure the products feel elevated rather than trendy.
Multi-functionality was achieved by designing the base as an ashtray that can be used to store items including keys, jewellery or small objects, as well as smoking paraphernalia.
The tray includes compartments sized to neatly hold the pipe and one-hitter, along with ground cannabis flower and joints. It can also double as an incense holder and nests neatly on top of the lid, which can be used as a pedestal.
Chudikova explained that the shapes of the various items were designed with ergonomics in mind. The two pipes feature proportions that are comfortable to grip and have flat bottoms, so they won't roll or topple when placed on a surface.
The designer chose materials that aimed to enhance the set's more premium look and feel.
The designer told Dezeen she wanted to create an object that "didn't scream 'this is for weed,' but rather one that blends seamlessly into your home."
"Gossamer's customers have an eye for sophisticated aesthetics, so The Nesting Set can seamlessly fit into the laid-back yet stylish vibe of their interiors," said Chudikova.
"The lid can discreetly keep smoking essentials neatly tucked away or proudly on display when placed underneath," she added. "Its minimal aesthetic is sculptural yet unobtrusive and that is why it's a perfect accessory for your home."
Borosilicate glass was used for the smoking set due to its durability and resistance to high temperatures, which makes it less prone to cracking or breaking.
The heavy-lidded ashtray is made from six-millimetre-thick opaque soda lime glass that lends it a reassuring heft. The glass is moulded into fluid, sculptural shapes that are easy to clean.
"Soda lime glass is also more cost-effective compared to some other types of glass, making the final product more accessible to a broader audience," Chudikova added.
"By choosing these materials, we were aiming for a balance between accessibility, aesthetics and functionality."
The Nesting Set is the latest in a series of products produced by Gossamer to complement its biannual print magazine focused on weed-adjacent stories about travel, design, art, culture and food.
The gradual legalisation of marijuana in parts of the US and Canada has led to a recent explosion of design-led cannabis-related products aimed at the more experimental consumer.
Previous examples include a range of stacking accessories including a grinder and a cone-shaped pipe made from pink glass, and a trio of boldly coloured ceramic bongs intended to exist in the space "between performing products and home decor objects".
The photography is by Sean Davidson.