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About this design
MG-471
MG-471 (Brazil) (Road Sign) Black Coffee Mug
This design reproduces a pentagonal route shield from Minas Gerais, the Brazilian state, bearing the letters MG above the numerals 471.
Visual Elements & Composition
The artwork is a flat vector graphic built on two colours, solid black and white. Black makes up about a fifth of the image and white the rest, so the shield reads as a bold silhouette with a crisp edge. A pentagonal badge sits at the centre, and a thin inner border follows its outline, giving the sign a framed, deliberate finish. The letters MG take the upper portion and the numerals 471 fill the lower, both set plainly with no ornament. Nothing competes with the sign, and the layout stays symmetrical from every angle.
Meaning & Symbolism
A route shield is a piece of everyday infrastructure. Its job is to tell a driver which road they are on, quickly and without words beyond the code itself. MG identifies the state, and 471 identifies the specific highway within its network. The design belongs to the modern, utilitarian tradition of road signage, where clarity matters more than decoration. Its minimalism is the point: the sign is a piece of the working landscape, rendered as a emblem rather than a picture of a road.
Turning the Sign in Hand
A mug is held and turned, so a design like this one rewards the moment you lift it. The shield faces you across the cup, and as you rotate it the badge and its border come round to meet your eye, the way a sign comes into view on an approaching road. For anyone who has travelled Minas Gerais, or who simply loves a clean piece of graphic design, it makes a morning coffee feel like a small journey.
- Theme
- Road Sign
- Place
- Brazil
- 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.