‘Do you really need that second helping?’ Shameware to help you with your diet!


It’s difficult to understand who the market for this product is—dishes and mugs that the owner will presumably use every single day, with shaming slogans in a bland typewriter font. Their maker is Fishs Eddy, a perfectly reputable purveyor of dishes and glasses and so forth based in New York with a bent for making whimsical and retro tableware—I’ve bought items from them myself. They have a fantastic line of baseball-themed plates, mugs, and glasses as well as this charming skyline-themed stuff. You can see the dinner plate, side plate, bowl, and coffee mug for yourself on this page. Fishs Eddy calls it “intervention-ware”—I’m calling it “shameware.” The side plate says in big type, “Big mistake.” It seems to come from a slightly different set from the others, which all use stronger and smaller type. The plate has four slogans, one of which is “For the love of god stop eating.” And so forth. Since coffee doesn’t really fit into the dieting paradigm, the mug just tells you you’re being obnoxious. These products are clearly intended for gag value, as it’s almost impossible to imagine anyone buying this or giving…

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Krista Aoki is a brand storyteller and designer helping...

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It’s time to make your dreams happen.

Krista Aoki is a brand storyteller and designer helping small businesses grow their visibility online through copy, content and design.