chopsticks, ice cream & conversation

Food is a complex topic that touches on society, behavior, geo-politics, culture, beliefs, history, trends, fads, art, marketing, sensory perception, biology and more. As someone born in France of Vietnamese immigrants and now living in the United States, food is a large part of my intercultural identity. In many cultures, the preparation and sharing of food is strongly associated with conviviality, togetherness, familiarity and community.  

In my thesis work, I am exploring how dynamic media can influence the experiences of eating, preparing, and sharing food. Sometimes technology enhances these experiences, and other times it disrupts them. My intent is to use existing technologies such as FaceTime and Skype to connect people around food, as well as to design immersive “eating experiences” that enhance people’s self-awareness and empathy, and encourage the sharing of meaningful stories and conversation.