The Design of Everyday Things

Not likly, the colours are all drab, doesnt look like it holds much and looks unstable, small handle - not even at $2

no, but i would not even buy it if it would have nice colour and a stable looking handle. it's a mug, many more interesting things to spend money in. stupid designer or factory didn't understood yet this kind of design is dead

Not likely. But that's not because I don't find the mugs attractive. It's the way and the place that they are displayed. There is this line of seemingly identical mugs of various colors next to plates, bowls, etc... of the same color scheme and similar style and slapped with a barcode. Because of this setup the mugs have lost any value based on their uniqueness. They have become a commodity and not a fine piece of design/art.

Would I pay $28 for this mug in a different environment/situation? Maybe.

It depends which company is selling it. If it comes with a chic paper bag with the 10"x10" logo of the store on it, then some people could buy it, say, as a birthday present and proudly give it to their firend among all the others. Not that I do this kind of things..