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About this design
SP-238
SP-238 (Brazil) (Road Sign) Black Coffee Mug
This design takes the form of a Brazilian highway route marker: a pentagonal road sign bearing the designation SP 238, rendered in flat black and white.
Visual Elements & Composition
The artwork is built on a stark two-colour palette, with white covering roughly four-fifths of the field and black supplying the rest. The dominant form is a double-outlined pentagon, the badge shape used to mark state highways, centred and held with plenty of clear space around it. Inside the badge, the letters SP sit above the numerals 238, set in bold, blocky characters that read instantly at a glance. There is no ornament or background detail. The simplicity is the point, and the flat vector construction keeps every edge crisp.
Meaning & Symbolism
Route markers are among the most recognisable pieces of everyday graphic design. Each shield tells a driver which road they are on and where it leads, and this one belongs to the SP series of state highways in São Paulo, Brazil's most populous state. The design therefore carries the language of travel, navigation and public infrastructure, translated into a Brazilian context. Its modern, utilitarian character gives it a quiet authority, the feel of a sign you have passed a hundred times without thinking, now isolated and given a second look.
Turning the Sign into a Mug
A road sign is designed to be read from a distance, from a moving car. Printed on a mug, it becomes something read up close, with the pentagon wrapping around the curve of the vessel and the numerals drifting into view as the mug is turned in the hand. Each sip brings the route marker to eye level, which makes it a fitting companion for a morning drive, a long commute or a weekend road trip planned over coffee. For anyone who has followed the SP highways, the mug is a small, cheeky souvenir of the road.
- 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.