Bloom : don't play with your food, play with your pliable tableware : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract

Products are often designed to encourage mass consumption through improved product function and/ or following aesthetic trends. When the main intent of a corporation is to sell products, designing for emotional intent and lasting product attachment is often neglected. However, designing for emotions through tactile connection can be a tool for product durability, significantly benefitting the user and the manufacturer downstream. Tableware is comprised of functional pieces of homeware that, when interacted with daily and over a prolonged period, can become mundane. Therefore this research seeks to use design to transform this potentially mundane interaction into a mindful, multi-sensorial experience to prolong the lifespan of tableware and enrich the eating experience. An iterative, practise-based process produced a pliable food vessel that increases our emotional experience in both individual and shared dining scenarios by activating an enjoyable haptic experience.