Representing the nation through food based on real life stories

Abstract

This thesis examines the fast growing new design field of food design, in order to identify whether it is a new legitimate profession or just a trend. In order to define food design, the study observes the realm of food, and its related design practices. The study follows a human-centered design approach to broaden the notion of food design and suggests various new roles of the designer as facilitator, storyteller, educator and toolmaker in the food domain.

Participation in the 2nd International Conference on Food Design in New York City (2015) enhances the understanding of food design. The analysis validates the potential and possibility of food design as a concrete profession. In addition, the study continues to explore the role of education in defining the new design field and the key elements to cement food design as a new profession, reflecting my internship at Studio Marije Vogelzang in 2016.

The effort of defining the relationship between food and design culminated in the food design practice within a multidisciplinary design project. The Design Department of Aalto University conducted a design exhibition titled “Nakuna,” or naked in Finnish. This special showcase was intended to celebrate Finland’s centennial independence anniversary during Milan Design Week, 2017. My project, “Laavu,” meaning a shelter in the forest in Finnish, was one of three projects created for the exhibition. This interactive food installation served approximately 1,200 visitors with three wild food products. The ingredients were collected from the Finnish public’s freezers by a participatory design process including interviews and roleplay.

Laavu was exhibited in Circolo Filologico Milanese at Milan Design Week 2017 in Italy. Nakuna was nominated as one of the top 40 exhibitions in the Milano Design Award competition among approximately 1,700 exhibitions during Milan Design Week. The food project was acknowledged as one of the top 3 memorable food experience in Fuorisalone, 2017.