About this design
IRL N1
IRL N1 (Ireland) (Road Sign) Black Coffee Mug
This design takes the familiar green-and-white route marker of the Irish road network and gives it a place of honour on a black mug, where the N1 badge reads cleanly every time you lift it for a sip.
Visual Elements & Composition
Forest green fills most of the design, forming a rounded rectangle that dominates the composition. A white rounded border frames a smaller badge at its centre, and inside that badge sits the route number in golden yellow: a capital N followed by the numeral 1. Black appears only as a thin accent, so the green, white and yellow do all the work. The layout is flat, symmetrical and uncluttered, with no decoration beyond the sign itself.
Meaning & Symbolism
The N prefix marks a national road in Ireland, and the N1 is the route that links Dublin with the Northern Ireland border. Its badge is a piece of everyday public signage, designed to be read quickly at speed by drivers who need the number at a glance. Turning that functional sign into a keepsake celebrates the plain, practical graphic language of the road, and the pride many people take in the routes that connect their towns and cities.
Picked Up Off the Table
A mug is turned in the hand, so the badge moves around the curve as you rotate it, and the white border keeps the number crisp from every angle. It is a small, close-up piece of art, meant to be read over a morning cup. For anyone who has ever followed the N1 signs on a long drive, it turns a familiar sight into something to hold onto.
- Theme
- Road Sign
- Place
- Ireland
- Also on
- 1 other mugs & glasses
- Printed
- When you order it
Glossy black ceramic mugs in two practical sizes — 11 oz (≈330 ml) and 15 oz (≈440 ml). Comfortable C-handle, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and manufactured to be lead- and BPA-free. Note: printed blacks may read slightly different from the mug’s base color.
These mugs are made from solid ceramic with a glossy glaze that gives a deep, even surface for printing. Sublimation printing embeds ink into the glaze so artwork sits smoothly on the mug rather than simply sitting on top — that means better resistance to fading and scratching during normal use.
They’re available in the classic 11-ounce size for everyday black coffee and tea, and a larger 15-ounce cup if you like extra room for milk, foam or a long pour. The C-shaped handle is wide enough for a secure grip and balances the mug well when full.
- Material: 100% ceramic with a high-gloss finish for punchy, saturated results.
- Sizes: 11 oz (≈330 ml) and 15 oz (≈440 ml) — choose your routine size.
- Printing: sublimation process fuses color into the glaze for durable imagery.
- Safety: lead- and BPA-free; meets common food-contact safety standards.
- Design note: very dark artwork and the mug’s black base can produce subtle shade differences — add a thin lighter outline to ensure contrast if needed.
These mugs are at home in the kitchen, on the office desk, or tucked into a morning routine. They work for espresso shots, pour-overs, oat-milk lattes — you name it. The larger size is handy when you want a second cup’s worth without a refill.
- Daily use: fill with your preferred brew and sip — the mug handles hot liquids safely.
- Office-friendly: fits most standard mug warmers and sits securely on communal trays and kitchen counters.
- Gifting: packs well (wrap with a soft layer) and pairs nicely with coffee beans, tea tins, or a small box of biscuits.
Practical tip: for very dark designs, try a thin light border or a small margin so the artwork reads cleanly against the black ceramic.
These mugs are both microwave- and dishwasher-safe, but gentle habits extend the life of the print. We recommend dishwasher use on the top rack and milder cycles when possible.
Hand-washing is the friendliest option: warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft sponge. Avoid steel wool, harsh scouring pads, or blasting with extremely hot industrial cycles. And a quick reminder — don’t microwave an empty mug.
Two sizes: 11 oz (approx. 330 ml) and 15 oz (approx. 440 ml). The smaller cup is the familiar, everyday size; the larger one is for fuller pours and extra-creamy drinks.
Each mug’s mouth and height are proportioned so they’re easy to drink from and easy to clean. If you’re pairing with saucers or nesting in cabinets, expect the 15 oz to be slightly wider and taller than the 11 oz.
Size guide
All measurements are product dimensions in inches.
| 11 oz | 15 oz | |
|---|---|---|
| Height (in) | 3.86 | 4.72 |
| Diameter (in) | 3.35 | 3.35 |
| Diameter with handle (in) | 4.72 | 5.12 |
Note: dimensions are nominal — small production tolerances may apply. If you need precise fitment (e.g., for nested storage or custom packaging), please allow a small margin.