NEWS

Eating and Design: The Work of Marije Vogelzang

Eating and Design: The Work of Marije Vogelzang

Posted on by Kbaumlier

As Marije Vogelzang  writes on her website about food, “It’s all about humans. Food is simply used as a tool to interact, explore, engage and enjoy.”  For many years Vogeizang, who has a background in design has created work both for clients and on her own that explores the relationship of design and food.

One project she did for Droog Design in the Netherlands was a holiday dinner, where she created an “intervention” experience.

To create a new experience, she used a table with a tablecloth, but the cloth was suspended in the air with slits in it. Participants had to sit with their heads inside the space and their bodies outside.  The setup suggests being inside of a tent or under a blanket, which creates an intimate setting.

Due to the setup, the dinner guests were actually physically connected.  If someone moved or pulled on the cloth, the person next to them would feel it also. The visitors did not know each other beforehand, but the experience worked to connect them and feel as though they were in something together.

At the event, the food was served in pairs in order to to support sharing.  For example, one person was served a two slices of melon on a plate while the person accross was given slices of ham on a similar plate. The participants without direction began to share their food.

The project was recreated in Tokyo in 2008, and the visitors to this dinner also engaged in the experience.  For this setup, everyone was given a scissors so that they could cut themselves out of the design at anytime if they wanted.

Some of Vogelzang’s other projects involve large conveyer belts of food on tables, and the relationship of storytelling and food.    More of Vogelzang’s projects can be seen on her website.

Image Source:
http://www.marijevogelzang.nl

Links:

http://www.marijevogelzang.nl

 

 

Reading for the Future: an Infographic about Reading and Success

Reading for the Future: an Infographic about Reading and Success

Posted on by Kbaumlier

I streamed an older show of This American Life recently that featured a segment on Baby College, a program for parents and children in Harlem that teaches the importance of building a strong foundation in the early years of a child.   One thing I learned by listening to the interviews in the show  is how important reading to children when they are young is.   A study was cited that proved that interaction and learning done with young children leads to better skills later in life, and is more effective than training older children to catch up on skills.

Reading is one of the most important skills a person can have.  The ability of a child to read in third grade is a point that can be measured for success, since children go from learning to read to reading to learn.

An infographic created by Good.is, the Apollo Group, and Teaching for Tomorrow shows how reading can impact a child’s life, and how parents and teachers can work to ensure students stay at the grade level of reading.

You can check out the infographic on the Good.is website

 

Image Source:
http://awesome.good.is/transparency/web/1212/reading-for-the-future/flash.html

 

Links:

http://awesome.good.is/transparency/web/1212/reading-for-the-future/flash.html

http://www.hcz.org/programs/early-childhood

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/364/going-big

 

Bird in Hand: Shadow Hand Lights by J.P Meulendiks

Bird in Hand: Shadow Hand Lights by J.P Meulendiks

Posted on by Kbaumlier

Taking the classic hand shadow of a bird to new heights, designer J.P. Meulendiks has created a large pendant light made of a series of hands that cast shadows on the walls that include the classic hand shadow of birds.

The piece is called Bird in Hand, and it is made of a material called ECOLOTEK, which is a durable, fully compostable material made of natural hemp fibers and a binder.

When the light is turned on, a series of bird shadows are cast around the room, making an abstract visual of a flock of birds.

Meulendiks designs furniture ,lightning, and other interior products.  In 2010 he started to focus on ecologic design and sustainability and developed the ECOLOTEK material, and created his new label called PLANKTON.

He writes on his website, “I like to describe my work as: fresh, soulful, minimal, with a slice of humor… I try to put a little poetry  and soul into a object. The idea usually defines the design of the product.”

Image Source:
http://www.planktonstation.nl/

 

Links:

http://www.planktonstation.nl/

 

Backbrat: A Portable Bicycle Grill for Bike Excursions

Backbrat: A Portable Bicycle Grill for Bike Excursions

Posted on by Kbaumlier

Today in Germnay the bratwurst is still the typical German fast-food.  (maybe tied with the Doner Kabab)  Many brats are named after their geographical origin, and various areas have their own brats.

Mahtias Hintermann has designed a portable grill that can be attached to a bike, making a compact and efficient way to bring grilling to any outside location.

The grill is designed with compartments that are integrated into one unit.  In the grill is the

grill, an area for coal, an area for the grill tong, a boiling compartment, and the lid is also a cutting board.  The size of the grill is designed to hold around 4 average brats.  To use the grill, you boil them for 15 minutes, then grill for 15-20 minutes.

Hintermann has lots of research on his website to support the design, and he states that there are 500,000  commuting bikes in Germany.  He also says that Germans eat 5.9 pounds of bratwurst per year.

The grill has gotten lots of press lately, and is available not just in Germay, but also in other countries.  You can see more designs and learn where get on Hintermann’s website.  If you like brats, why not bring them along so you can cook them on the go?

Image Source:

http://www.mathiashintermann.com

 

Links:

http://www.mathiashintermann.com

 

Love With Food: Eat Treats and Donate a Meal to a Hungry Child

Love With Food: Eat Treats and Donate a Meal to a Hungry Child

Posted on by Kbaumlier

Recently there have been lots of businesses popping up that are linking consumer purchasing to making a donation when purchasing something.

Love For Food is taking on the prevalent issue of hunger with a monthly membership of gourmet and nutritional products.  Each month, The Love with Food Group puts together boxes of gourmet treats that you can buy, and proceeds from the purchase go to donate a meal to a hungry child.

To sign up, you donate $10 a month and get 8 or more gourmet foods that might include tea, olive oil, cookies, jelly, and other specialty foods.  For each box you get – a meal is donated to a hungry child in the U.S.

From what I can see from pictures, the food in the box looks like items that would cost at least $5 a piece –  so it is a deal for the purchaser and you also can help a child who is hungry.

To date, there have been 50,220 meals donated.  I don’t eat a lot of specialty prepared foods – but I know of people that would love getting this box of food and also knowing that they are helping feed a child.  You can check out more about Love For Food on their website, and also see more pictures of the food at lovewithfood.com.

Image Source:
lovewithfood.com

Links:

lovewithfood.com