Jingwen Li

New Tastes

Many children, like my picky little sister, are reluctant to try new foods and tastes. This observation inspired me to design novel eating experiences that raise food curiosity for children between the age of four and seven. The purpose of the project is to redefine utensils, making them experimental, sensorial, and even educational. Taste is influenced not only by the taste buds but by the perception of taste through color, texture, shape, and form of utensils. Inspired by this knowledge, I developed a set of four utensils that are purposely designed to influence the sensory experience of eating by changing the perception of taste. My project is not meant to present a commercial design solution but serves as a discursive design object for people to rethink, reimagine, and raise discussion about the experience of eating. Each of the four designs has been created to simulate different senses through unique visual elements and represent the four basic tastes - sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy. These experimental utensils encourage children to enjoy the process of trying new foods by using unfamiliar objects and provides an opportunity for children to learn how different factors would influence their sensory experiences.