Mindful Kitchen
Imagining a world without numbers
2021
Studio project
Category: Speculative, Product, Storytelling
Designed with Claudia Goh & Tan Weijing
Under the supervision of Olivia Lee
Numbers are one of the most ever-present tools of our everyday life but it goes largely unnoticed until it is absent. We have become reliant to digits and the way it has defined our way of life makes a world without numbers inconceivable.
Numbers support thousands of essential functions. It provides us with the concept of time, and it also puts a point of measure to everything. It commands our subconscious and creates comparison. This includes achievements, money, and the body etc.
We imagine a world without numbers. How would life be different? How will humans behave? Or Will we have different personalities?
In absence of numbers
In a universe without numbers, society transforms into a compassionate and considerate place. People live by understanding and prudence. Their actions are deliberate, because life here moves slowly and it is peaceful and relaxing. And where the living scape becomes neatly compose, all intent will fall right into place.
Here, time is experiential. Each action should hold meaning and each interaction should involve the senses at a relatively heightened level. The objects should encourage mindfulness and be life-enhancing, and to praise the passage of time by taking the time to feel and appropriate each action.
In a universe without numbers, society transforms into a compassionate and considerate place. People live by understanding and prudence. Their actions are deliberate, because life here moves slowly and it is peaceful and relaxing. And where the living scape becomes neatly compose, all intent will fall right into place.
Here, time is experiential. Each action should hold meaning and each interaction should involve the senses at a relatively heightened level. The objects should encourage mindfulness and be life-enhancing, and to praise the passage of time by taking the time to feel and appropriate each action.
Premise
Baking requires many important numericals, which is why we decided to challenge ourselves to explore designing products in the absence of numbers. How would measuring cups look like? How can you tell the time?
Baking requires many important numericals, which is why we decided to challenge ourselves to explore designing products in the absence of numbers. How would measuring cups look like? How can you tell the time?
Product: Expiry Labels
Metal oxidation occurs when an ionic chemical reaction takes place with the presence of oxygen. Overtime, metal starts to rust.
All foods have different shelf lives. Since metal reacts differently with different liquids - eg. water, salt water, vinegar. We applied that into our design to show the passage of time.
Best before dates are usually just a gauge. Thus a visual indicator like the severity of rust is enough to signal the freshness of a product. Making sure that the oxidation is safe from contaminating the food, it is concealed in plastic and integrated into the packaging.
Metal oxidation occurs when an ionic chemical reaction takes place with the presence of oxygen. Overtime, metal starts to rust.
All foods have different shelf lives. Since metal reacts differently with different liquids - eg. water, salt water, vinegar. We applied that into our design to show the passage of time.
Best before dates are usually just a gauge. Thus a visual indicator like the severity of rust is enough to signal the freshness of a product. Making sure that the oxidation is safe from contaminating the food, it is concealed in plastic and integrated into the packaging.
Product: Measuring cups
We designed a recipe template based only on ratios. Ratio analysis is a very useful measuring tool that helps to improve the understanding of quantity, in a different way. By filling each ingredient to the brim, a repeatable outcome is guaranteed.
The ratio template is integrated with instructions on the sides, allowing simple visuals for users to reference easily.
We designed a recipe template based only on ratios. Ratio analysis is a very useful measuring tool that helps to improve the understanding of quantity, in a different way. By filling each ingredient to the brim, a repeatable outcome is guaranteed.
The ratio template is integrated with instructions on the sides, allowing simple visuals for users to reference easily.
Product: Timers
With ball bearings, we are able to gauge a duration from when the spinner starts until it stops. The duration that it spins relies of either the type of ball bearing, of the size and weight of the exterior that holds the bearing.
Therefore, we have a made the timers to have spinners of various sizes to indicate the different durations.
It is attachable to the frame with its magnet. Time is up when the spinner stops.
With ball bearings, we are able to gauge a duration from when the spinner starts until it stops. The duration that it spins relies of either the type of ball bearing, of the size and weight of the exterior that holds the bearing.
Therefore, we have a made the timers to have spinners of various sizes to indicate the different durations.
It is attachable to the frame with its magnet. Time is up when the spinner stops.
