A Disruptive Dinner
How might a slight alteration to a mundane activity change the way we interact with each other? Eating is an innately personal and intimate activity, yet we often share it with others. From first dates, business meetings, family gatherings, and more, humans across cultures gather for mealtime. I wanted to investigate a shared dinner table as an environment of social interaction and see if a slight manipulation of the objects on the table could change the dynamics of the meal. These handmade tablewares were used to facilitate such subversions between friends and strangers in a dinner party setting.
Wooden objects made from Ash, sand blasted to enhance grain texture.
Magnets hidden in the bottom of the wooden objects designed to react with steel cutlery.
Cups 3d printed PLA (lined with paper cups)
The Party
A collection of wooden plates and bowls with hidden magnets embedded in the bottom, alongside a set of 3D printed cups with holes designed to spill as the user drinks. The participants were invited to the meal under the pretense of evaluating the various designs of the tablewares. Their reactions were recorded and they all participated in a group discussion after dinner was over
From the party
More Testing
