Project Nourished
Imagining a future where taste, texture, and satiety can be simulated through a combination of virtual reality and physical hardware.
Introduction
Project Nourished is an experimental initiative exploring “computational gastronomy,” where food is no longer limited to physical ingredients but instead designed through sensory manipulation.
Led by Jinsoo An, the project imagines a future where taste, texture, and satiety can be simulated through a combination of virtual reality and physical hardware.
I was brought in to design the physical components that support this speculative experience, specifically a VR headset and aromatic diffuser. The goal was to create objects that felt futuristic yet intentional, bridging the gap between conceptual art and functional product design. The final direction centered on an origami-inspired form language, reinforcing the idea of perception unfolding in layers and aligning with the project’s philosophical exploration of reality versus sensation.
Year
2018
Duration
10 Weeks
Client
Machinarii
Categories
3D Design
Experiential
Challenge
An evolving narrative around “hypergastronomy” neededed the hardware to communicate credibility while remaining intentionally abstract.
Additionally, the objects had to visually signal innovation without falling into the trap of typical VR aesthetics. The design needed to feel sculptural and conceptual rather than tech-driven, helping audiences suspend disbelief and engage with the idea of eating through perception alone.
Solution
I developed and pitched three computational design directions, exploring repetition, modularity, and geometric folding. The selected concept, inspired by origami, translated into a faceted, low-poly form that feels both architectural and otherworldly.
This approach created a cohesive visual language across the headset and diffuser, using sharp planes and folded surfaces to evoke transformation and sensory layering. The monochromatic white palette further abstracted the objects, allowing them to exist somewhere between product, sculpture, and speculative artifact.
The result is a set of devices that do not just support the experience, but actively communicate its premise. They embody the idea that reality can be constructed, deconstructed, and reinterpreted through design, making the intangible concept of virtual consumption feel tangible and believable.
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