Problem
Design for Children’s Eating
Children between the ages of 4 to 7 are reluctant to try new foods and tastes. It is crucial to learn and accept new foods.
Design Goal Design a set of utensils and a novel eating and sensory experiences that raise food curiosity for children between the age of 4 and 7.
Research Findings
Secondary Research About Eating and Senses Our taste and flavor experience is determined by the expectations we generate prior to tasting. The shape, smell, color, packaging, and even the setting in which it is eaten affect the way we taste.
Current Children's Utensils
Children’s eating utensils are either designed with a cute or funny look, or adding a cute handle. There are only a few products that add a little bit of texture onto the surface of the tools. So there is an opportunity to expand this space by creating utensils that are not only visually interesting, but also sensorially interesting.
Design Concept Create designs that simulate different senses through unique visual elements and represent the four basic tastes - sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy.
Sour
Sweet
Bitter
Spicy
Inspiration
Natural Element C. Spence, B. Piqueras-Fiszman, AV. Cardello, FM. Clydesdale, JF. Delwiche, RL. Hall, JL. Kanig, FM. Clydesdale AS. Kostyla, et al. “On the Psychological Impact of Food Colour.” Flavour. BioMed Central, January 1, 1970.
Unique Texture Unique Shape
Interviews
To learn more about children's understanding of tastes and colors, 5 children were interviewed. The interview asked children to pair up colors, tastes, and textures. In addition, the interview also asked children to draw out their favorite eating tool in their imagination. The interview results were analyzed and helped inform design decision.
Interview Insights A
Other Interesting Findings B
C
D
1. Children don’t like soft food (they hate tomato & spicy food) 2. Boys tend to draw things that focus on functionality (tools that help them eat, auto/machine eating tools etc.
4/5 picked sour
4/5 picked sweet
5/5 picked bitter
1 picked sweet
1 picked spicy
All kids picked bitter 1 picked sour
4/5 picked spicy
3. Most of them love to try out different food & taste, some children hesitate to try new things
Ideation Sketches
Form Development
Clay Modeling