FOOD DESIGN
ACTIVISM
"With the term
Food Design Activism
I open the space where
Design Activism and Food Activism meet".
Dr. Francesca Zampollo
Design Activism
"Design Activism generally is defined as representing Design's central role in (1) promoting social change, (2) raising awareness about values and beliefs, or (3) questioning the constraints that mass production and consumerism place on people's everyday life. Design activism, in this context, is not restricted to a single discipline of design but includes areas such as product design, interaction design, new media, urban design, architecture, and fashion and textiles, among others".
by Thomas Markussen
FOOD DESIGN ACTIVISM
Food Design Activism
is the Food-specific branch of Design Activism.
Food Design Activism
is where Design Activism meets Food Activism.
Food Design Activism
is the deliberate use of Design practices to pursue equality, justice, and well-being for human beings and vitality of all natural elements of a food system: plants, animals, soil, water, and air. Food Design activism pursues food sovereignty, food safety, food justice, and agroecology. Food Design Activism reveals, contests, and disrupts unjust power structures, gives voice to marginalised communities, and initiates real, actionable changes.
by Francesca Zampollo
Food Activism
"Activism is the practice of addressing an issue, any issue, by challenging those in power"
by Anjali Appadurai
Food Activism is the practice of addressing food-related issues by challenging those in power.
Principles
The 7 principles of Food Design Activism provide a framework for using Design to address societal challenges within food systems.
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Food Design Activism
1. changes food systems
Food Design Activism, as an extension of Design Activism, engages with food systems as its primary field of intervention. At its core, Food Design Activism seeks to reveal, disrupt, and reimagine food systems by addressing the interconnected components of production, consumption, waste, and sustainability. It draws upon systemic thinking to confront the pressing challenges in contemporary food systems while creating opportunities for meaningful change.
Food Design Activism is:
2. revealing
Food Design Activism reveals hidden truths and overlooked dynamics within food systems. By making visible the social, environmental, and economic impacts of food production and consumption, it fosters transparency and encourages critical engagement with the choices we make around food.
3. political
Food Design Activism recognizes food as inherently political. This principle emphasizes the role of power, policy, and governance in shaping food systems. With Food Design Activism outcomes and processes reveal and at the same time contest existing configurations and conditions of society. Food Design Activism influences public opinion, advocates for policy reforms, and amplifies marginalized voices within the global food discourse.
4. contesting
Food Design Activism contests dominant narratives and practices in food culture and industry. As Activism, it shares kinship with political activism and anti-establishment movements. Food Design Activism questions systems of inequality, exploitation, and environmental harm, advocating for alternative approaches that prioritize justice, equity, and sustainability.
5. disruptive
Food Design Activism embraces disruption as a strategy to provoke reflection and change. Through bold interventions and creative projects, it interrupts habitual behaviors and perceptions, inspiring people to reconsider their relationships with food and its systems.
6. designerly
Food Design Activism implies the deliberate use of Design thinking, principles, and methodologies. Food Design Activism leverages the unique problem-solving and storytelling capabilities of Design to craft impactful interventions that resonate with diverse audiences and drive meaningful change.
7. real
Food Design Activism generates tangible and impactful outcomes that seamlessly integrate into people’s daily lives. Its propositions manifest as tangible and digital products, edible and non-edible products, events, spaces, services, branding and communication campaigns, strategies and policies. These interventions target specific elements of food systems or address them holistically, with the goal of fostering meaningful and lasting change.
These principles have been outlined by Francesca Zampollo in November 2024
Food Design Activism
IS NOT
Critical / Speculative Food Design
Food Design Activism
IS NOT
Food Activism
Food Design Activism
IS NOT
protesting against "bad Design"
Food Design Activism
IS NOT
Artistic Activism
Food Design Activism
IS NOT
Design for social impact