Plate Tectonics
Creating a New Eating Experience by Innovative Tableware with Innovative Food
Introduction
Due to rapidly changing eating habits in the recent years, there is a high demand for tableware that breaks away from traditions. Tableware is not simply designed for containing food, but for creating thoughtfully composed visual presentations. Artistic Innovative Food presentation catches more and more attention and is forming the basis of a new eating and dining trend in which tableware is regarded as a frame or a canvas on which food is placed similarly to a work of art. This project aims to integrate the tableware along with its functions and its aesthetics with the Innovative Food trend. The objective is to provide people with a simulating, wonderful eating adventure. The project is based on two concepts: Minimalist style and architectural inspiration. The latter allows breaking away from conventional two-dimensional food presentations and to allow venturing into new possibilities of 3D structures and 4D time lines.
2D Presentation
Innovative Food chefs regard food presentation as the creation of artworks similar to painings for which the tableware must act as canvases. The chefs create visual presentations by using the colors and shapes of the food in compositions that interact with the shapes and proportions of the tableware.
The simpe square shape can magically inspire the creativity of the chef as it provides a lot of space for imagination with minimal limitations.
Another feature of this plate design is the added thermal mass. Inspired by the way intelligently planned buildings provide passive heating or cooling, this design helps maintaining food temperatures in order to maintain the quality of a dish after it has been served.
3D Presentation
Food is usually presented in two dimensions only. Much risher experiences can be created involving the third dimension by the use of this tableware. 3D food presentations can embrace layers, levels, depth and even structure.
Altar
This item is based on the altar as a metaphor. Just as worshippers sacrifice their very best to their gods, the innovative chef may use this new tableware design to express his or her devotion and sincerity to his or her customers.
Altar I
The altar combines the functions of a bowl and a plate. This is especially designed for courses that combine food in both liquid and solid forms together on one tableware. A unique feature of this design is the hole at the heart of the object, which allows not only to see through from one side to another side, enhancing visual enjoyment,but also serves as an additional food presentation area.
Altar II
Based on the concept of Altar I, this further development is especially customized for holding so-called cone food. To make the item even more interesting, it includes some movable cups that can be used to present small treats and little pieces of culinary art.
Stairs
The stairs provide different three-dimensional layers for presenting desserts. Any number of stairs can be combined to form interesting combinations. The chef takes part in the table ware design process by combining hundreds or even thousands of ever-new cominations.
4D presentation
The 4D presentation concept has evolved from the 3D presentation concept, involving also a new element of time. Timing is very important of a food preparation and presentation but it has rarely been explored as a design inspiration for new tableware. Introducing the time line into the food praesentation, the 4D concept supports and creates new eating experiences.
Flowing sauce
Sauce is usually poured on the top of food with no surprise. It does not stimulate your visual sensation. This design presents the sauce as a surprising experience to diners. The sauce pours from the back and flows down like a waterfall, forming sometimes unpresicatable pattens depending on the sauce consistency and texture. It does not only satisfy the visual sense of the diners, it also creates a new way of serving food with an element of time.
