Introduction

At the beginning of this investigation, the connection between nutritional and mental wellbeing and design is explored in order to consider how design can make a user’s life healthier and happier. The research findings lead the dissertation to its end goal: to identify a set of key features of a design solution, which could improve both the nutritional and mental wellbeing of the user.

Designers are constantly concerned by the user's happiness: How do we fulfil their needs? How do we make a product that makes them happier? Healthier? Safer? These questions are concerned with the user's wellbeing.

This dissertation is a multi-layered discussion that intends to facilitate an adoption of new nutritional and mental wellbeing practices, in order to make people healthier and happier. This proposal will be based on a combination of design principles from a variety of design theories such as Permaculture and Emotionally Durable Design, which will be discussed later. The design principles will be accompanied with relevant nutritional health discoveries. The outline of a solution to the question posed in the title will be finalised in the conclusion.

Chapter 1 identifies the need for design input by identifying problems with mental health and nutrition that have come to light as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic and associated lockdowns. It also delves deeper into human behavioural problems by analysing why people do not eat healthily. An important connection between nutrition and mental health is highlighted and the need for the reframing of the idea of ‘healthy eating’ is discussed.

Chapter 2 starts by recognising that the lockdown presents an opportunity for a behaviour change. The dissertation then overviews theories and design frameworks that enable designers to create impactful design solutions for personal wellbeing. It discusses a variety of ideas on how to successfully design for nutritional and mental wellbeing with Design for Behaviour Change, Pleasurable Design Framework, Emotional Design, Emotionally Durable Design. The chapter provides some examples of the implementation of the principles of these theories.

Chapter 3 allows the reader to find out more about the latest approach to nutritional health: personalised nutrition. It discusses the reasoning behind this method and draws parallels with the definition of Permaculture: a design philosophy about system thinking and sustainability. The application of the principles of Permaculture in design for nutrition are discussed through reallife product design examples.

Chapter 4 suggests a set of key features which design solutions, which benefit a user’s nutrition and mental wellbeing, should have. However, the drawbacks and possible hazards of user-led interventions into their health via alternative medicine are highlighted and it is questioned whether it is advisable to experimentally intervene with one’s health.