SAHAR BABAEI S.B.
LISTERINE FULL MEAL + : a speculative design fiction
This design fiction explores the future of food production and consumption, highlighting food scarcity and crop extinction. It is situated in a future where non-food related industries have expanded to focus on food production due to high demand and profitability. Listerine Full Meal +, is a sustainable meal replacement made from insects. The limited-edition flavors provide consumers with a nostalgic taste of food products that have gone extinct in 2050.
Project Overview
Goal
To design and develop a a design fiction that critically engages with and explores the future of food production and consumption
Context
2 week long academic group project (Jan, 2024)
Team
Sahar Babaei / Matthew Ma / Vicky Lau / Emma Wang
Tools used
Figma / Photoshop / ChatGPT4
My contributions
Concept ideation / Visual design / Product mockups / Copywriting
A Closer Look
Product name
Listerine Full Meal + Limited edition : Flavors of the past
Speculative design strategy
Design fiction / Switching fact and fiction / Diegetic prototype
Worldbuilding considerations
Listerine Full Meal + is advertised and sold in supermarkets alongside other packaged meals and nutrients. In this imagined world, supermarkets no longer offer fresh produce and foods, resulting in a sense of dullness and emptiness within these stores.
Why Listerine?
The form of this project is inspired by the packaging of Listerine breath strips which provide an ideal medium for an efficient and quick meal replacement product. This brand is chosen to symbolize the potential shift of non-food industries into food production. Considering the high demand for nutritious foods and concerns regarding food scarcity, it's plausible to see such industries transition into the food sector for increased profits.
Reflection
Presenting this concept in class and seeing people's positive reaction to it was fascinating. For the first time, i observed how a design project can push people to critically reflect on the importance of humanity's current choices in shaping our future and the future of our planet. After years of viewing design as a discipline primarily meant for problem-solving, it was refreshing to practice design from the perspective of speculation and utilize it to spark critical conversations. This project allowed me to critically self reflect on the purpose of design in the world we live in; and how i, as a designer, can play an important role in shaping what the future of this world looks like.
