Findings
Are we aware of how the food we consume affects our bodies? In a country like Singapore where the variety and cuisines of food are an abundance, locals are spoilt for a choice. In our project that centres around the ‘archives’ category, through data collection and visualisation, we decided to visualise 100 calories of the daily local food in Singapore that we eat.
In our efforts to understand the types of food locals eat, we made a survey to find out what locals like to eat, what they think are healthy, and what they think are unhealthy to consume. Through the collection of data, we picked the top 5 food types for each category and visualise them in a physical artefact.
Insights We Gained
We chose this project initially under the guise of visualising textures in fruits. After much deliberation, we took a step back and made the choice to target this topic under the lens of health. We decided that 100 calories is a good baseline for people to juxtapose the physical size of the physical artefacts against one another.
After measuring the weight and volume through the use of measuring equipment like the electronic scale and measuring beaker, we parse the recorded data through mathematical formulas to find out the total volume and percentage of food in each food type in 100 calories.
We decided to parse the data to make a physical and tangible artefact for people to juxtapose themselves on how big and small each food item and ingredients are like. With the juxtaposition in mind, we hope to inspire readers to think twice on whether it is beneficial to their bodies to consume certain food types.
Design Decisions
We have discussed on how we want to feature the physical artefact and decided to play towards our strengths by utilizing Kai Yee and Angela's skills in illustration. The illustration focuses on featuring the textures of the ingredients as we want to give a mosaic effect to the boxes. The illustrations are darken/ lighten in the physical artefact to give more clarity in the words shown.
We chose 'October Devanagari' as it fits with the light hearted illustration. We chose to feature the details on the 3x3cm front and back of all the food items for consistency in layout for all the ingredients. '100 calories' label is also placed on food item as a set to indicate that the total amount of combined ingredients equates to 100 calories.
Challenges
Behind a fixed idea, we experienced confusion, change of ideas, and tons of trial and error. Honestly, we once felt lost in the middle of our progress because of many direction and outcome changes. At first the result of the final project was a physical outcome, namely creating stamps, and then changed to 100 calorie food projection, changed again to cards, changed again to website, then finally changed again to food cubes.
The thing that helps us to finally determine the outcome of this project is by taking a step back, asking ourselves again about our purpose in making this project. By answering this question, we can focus more on the things we want to achieve.
The challenges didn't just stop here, when we finally decided to make a foodcube, there were many obstacles such as changing the calculation formula and inaccurate calculation results.
Calculations really influence the design decisions of food cubes. Calculations must come with logic so we can produce a capable outcome. To overcome this, feedback from lecturers and group discussions is very helpful in providing a new point of view and solutions for us to move forward.
Challenges make us discover things about something that we never really knew
- Cicely Tyson
Feedback
The food cube artefact is able to visualise calories and nutrients, provide size comparisons between different foods, and be able to engage the audience to interact with them. However there is no specific instruction to play with the cubes.
When Jo was playing with our artefacts she lined up and arranged them based on size. The question arises, does this stop here? Is this how to play it? Is the bigger portion healthier?
This question means that there is still ambiguity and confusion that must be improved, it should not stop at this stage. We have to push our ideas and contextualise them. There are several options that can be done, which can include the artefact with instructions or can gamify the project.
Achievements
As a group, we have succeeded in working together, combining ideas, compromising, solving each other's problems, creating extraordinary artefacts. Artefact has succeeded in representing calories numbers into something more realistic, educational and visually appealing.
Even though there are various challenges and problems that must be faced, the expertise of each member combines perfectly, forming a physical artefact that embodies the 100 calories concept. This is a symbol of our collective victory, reflecting our ability to turn ideas into impactful and tangible realities to increase public awareness of meeting daily nutritional and calorie needs.
