Food For Thought
Branding Illustration
Winner of Best In Show at The Edinburgh Napier University Degree show 2024 (Graphic Design)
Client: Edinburgh Napier University (2023/24) MAJOR PROJECT
“Food For Thought” is a speculative pop-up grocery store that sells knowledge about type 1 diabetes. Each product addresses a specific issue relating to type 1 diabetes including: hypos, diagnosis, carb counting and myth busting. Non-diabetics are able to browse the shop and educate themselves in a fun and interactive way.
“Food For Thought” visited JDRF’s Aberdeen discovery day in March 2024, this allowed type 1 diabetics to see the project and give feedback.
From the 12th-14th of April 2024, the “Food For Thought” pop-up shop opened its doors. The supermarket helped educate many non-diabetics about T1D. Lots of type 1 diabetics also got to browse the shop and have insightful conversations with non-diabetics.
The Design Process:
Research:
I first started by creating a probe to find out what existing knowledge and misconceptions non-diabetic’s had. I found that there was a lot of false information going around, particularly the idea that type 1 diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar.
I then interviewed type 1 diabetics, who told me that they really wanted non-diabetics to understand what daily life is like with the condition. In response to this I then created a comic that taught non-diabetics what it is like to live with type 1 diabetes, this changed their perspectives on the condition. This made me realise this was an issue that needed to be addressed and graphic design can be a tool to educate.
The idea of a supermarket came apparent from the myth that diabetes is caused by an unhealthy diet. Although this is incorrect, type 1 diabetes is strongly related to food and counting carbs. Food packaging is also a fun and interactive tool to entice non-diabetics to want to learn compared to the sterile, existing design about type 1 diabetes.
See the making of “Food For Thought” video below: