Portion Distortion

How much do we eat? How big is your portion? Can we eat too much? But how do we know we are overeating? And what is the impact of external elements on eating food? Trendtablet wrote: Although food is one of the most satisfying pleasures of life for most of us, it is also the biggest struggle for some. This satisfaction but also this struggle is not just about food, it might be even more about the way we consume it. The way we devour sustenance is strongly influenced by the external elements of consumption, namely the tools and objects we use. Mainly overeating is strongly manipulated by size, colour and usability of our tableware. (trendtablt.com,2016)   

What is it?   

During her intern at Studio José de la O Dafne Ríos worked on a project called Portion Distortion. Dafne got interested in the way we consume,  especially how we consume food. She started creating a service that focusses on eating disorders combined with overeating. "Whether a person overeats is not only determined by the food choices they make, it is also determined by the portion sizes they eat and the frequency they eat”.  -Brian Wansink. Out of this vision Dafne together with Studio José de la O created Portion Distortion,    

Why is it cool?   

I think it’s really cool, also because  I myself have to cope with an eating disorder with overeating. To my opinion this is really a good way how to look at problems like overeating and the way we consume. Studio José de la O made the tableware look like it could really help in recovering from an eating disorder, even though the tableware is hypothetical.    

The project could also bring about more understanding in people who (luckily enough) don’t understand what it is like to suffer from an eating disorder. By watching the specially designed external elements you can see the variation in effect of the tableware on consuming.   

Does it have future growth potential?    

At this stage no, but when it would be used in eating disorder treatment it could be a way to get over it. When it would be used in treatment the mental part would be supported by a physical part.    

Trends   

Transparency and Customized therapies are trends I would link to Portion Distortion. Transparency is a trend that reflects the way the consumer wants to gain knowledge about things. Eating with special equipment shows your weakness. And Customized therapies suits because it’s hard to find a therapy already existing that suits you. Everyone is different and each problem has another key. The Open World trend tells us that everything these days can and will be shared. Actually a bit like transparency, but I would say the Open World trend makes it possible to share these things.   

Quality of Life   

Portion Distortion fits in the QoL model at the most wellbeings: material, social, emotional and physical wellbeing.     

http://www.trendtablet.com/8194-food-future/   

http://www.studiojosedelao.com/#/portiondistortion/