The Future Fridge
From research to reality
Currently a quarter of global emissions come from food production – more than twice that produced by cars – and over a third of food is wasted. Experiential design agency The Liminal Space were approached by Imperial College London to create an immersive experience that could educate and empower diverse audiences about the issues surrounding food waste.
The goal was to help individuals to make more environmentally friendly food consumption choices, while being mindful not to overwhelm or add to climate anxiety. Working with an Experience designer and 3D designer, we brought the concept of The Future Fridge to life.
Client
Imperial College London
Project type
Packaging & Art Direction
Our Role
Date
Design & Art Direction
June 2023
Credits
Bella Binns
Copywriter
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Dee Ramadan
Event Photography
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Margherita Poggiali
Experience Design
Nathan Joyce
Product Photography
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The Liminal Space
Project Direction
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How it works
The Future Fridge was a life-sized, interactive activation that supported informed dialogue between participants. Working with The Liminal Space and Imperial College’s researchers, we developed compelling examples of both real and possible near-future consumable goods – such as chicken nuggets made from insect protein and lab-grown meat.
These concepts were then turned into a series of interactive products, with embedded sensory elements to make them dynamic and engaging. The items were housed within the bespoke fridge, which featured doors and drawers that opened to reveal the different types of food and related information. The storytelling on each piece of packaging encouraged audiences to question and compare their daily shopping choices, while considering how willing they’d be to explore more climate-friendly alternatives.
The impact
The experience was specifically designed to be mobile, so it could travel to different locations and audiences. The Future Fridge itself opens on four sides to facilitate conversations between multiple participants simultaneously. Integrated into the design of the fridge were interactive worksheets and forms, to encourage users to share their thoughts and feedback. This provided valuable insights for Imperial College’s research into what motivates and drives the choices people make about food.
The success of The Future Fridge pilot led to its appearance at the Great Exhibition Road Festival in West London in June 2023. Imperial has plans for its longer-term use as a pop-up installation across the capital.
