GLOBAL GOODIES

A Tokyo Children’s

society Event

DESIGN TEAM

Introduction

The Global Goodies International Food Festival is an immersive and educational project designed to captivate the hearts and minds of elementary-aged children and their families in Tokyo, Japan. The project aims to foster curiosity, appreciation, and understanding for cultural diversity through the universal language of food. This introduction provides an overview of the project's objectives, scope, and the essential background information that shapes the unique cultural experience within the dynamic setting of Yoyogi Park. From culinary art collaborations to an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) Cooking Experience, Global Goodies promises a vibrant fusion of flavors, art, and technology, creating lasting memories and promoting cultural unity within the community.

ProbleM/ challenge

Constraint: Collaborate with local artists to transform food into art, creating visually stunning and Instagram-worthy culinary installations.

In response to the creative challenge presented, our team has meticulously crafted a unique and enchanting culinary art collaboration experience tailored for the young minds of Tokyo, Japan. The mission at hand is to engage elementary-aged children in a mesmerizing exploration of the intersection between food and art. Collaborating with local artists, we aim to transform the culinary landscape into a canvas of visually stunning masterpieces, creating an immersive encounter that not only captures but captivates the attention of these young enthusiasts. This project aspires to infuse the joy of artistic expression into the realm of gastronomy, fostering an environment where every dish becomes a work of art, and every bite a sensory delight. This project aims to invite guests on a journey where flavors and aesthetics harmonize, creating an unforgettable experience for the culinary connoisseurs of tomorrow.

Research & discovery

Our research highlighted the differences between American and Japanese education systems. Starting when they are in kindergarten, children walk to school by themselves. This information allowed us to design an experience that is more self-paced and child directed. Instead of parents leading the way around the park, children would be allowed to follow their hearts to identify what they are most drawn to. Interests in food was another unique challenge that was highlighted. Average children in Japan are open and welcoming to trying new food.

This allowed our design solution to center around meals that are unique and accurately represent each countries’ cultures. The final revelation that occurred as a result of our research was that Japanese students regularly go on field trips. As a result, students enjoying a cultural educational fair would be familiar to them. Identifying the unique elements of Japanese school children’s lives, we were able to identify the best elements that would make our cultural street fair a success. See appendix for mood boards and personas.

Design process

As a team, we developed our idea for Global Goodies International Food Festival through different methods of brainstorming and and prototyping. First, we developed different ideas for the fair through collaborative group discussion and writing the ideas down on sticky notes. We discussed important questions such as:

• What experience does the user desire?
  
• Who might attend?
• Who is the target audience in relation to each other?
• What do you want the target audience to feel?
• How might you make them feel connected and included?

Finally, we researched which ideas would be the most applicable. Once we reached a consensus on what our main attractions of the fair are, we wrote a final outline of our ideas and prototyped different elements.

Design solution

• The Global Goodies International Food Festival will take place during a summer weekend, Saturday & Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo Japan.
• Local elementary school students and their families are invited to attend this educational event.
• Children will receive a stamp booklet and are encouraged to follow a map that will start with a interactive AR cooking experience and then allow children to get a bite sized sample of food from 10 countries around the park.
• Once all 10 countries have been stamped at each country booth, they will receive a branded bento box as a prize.
• Information booths about each country will be present for children to interact with.
• An ice statue of our panda mascot will have mochi samples to be given out at the end of their adventure. This meets our constraint of incorporating a local artist food art display.

AR Experience

Embark on a magical culinary adventure at the Tokyo Cultural Food Festival with our Interactive Augmented Reality (AR) Cooking Experience. This immersive journey seamlessly blends the tactile joy of real cooking tools with the enchantment of AR technology. Equipped with authentic utensils, children follow step-by-step guidance on computer screens by virtual culinary guides, exploring multicultural dishes and traditions. The AR-Enhanced Cooking Area adds a festive touch, creating a visually captivating environment. Beyond entertainment, this educational initiative gamifies the learning process, harmonizing technology with traditional cooking tools. Global Goodies aims to inspire curiosity, cultural appreciation, and a love for the culinary arts, creating lasting memories for our young participants.

ACTIVITIES PERFECT FOR ALL

PiCNIC BLANKETS

Families attending can enhance their culinary experience by reserving picnic blankets, providing a cozy space to savor the global cuisines.

STAMP BOOK

As students explore the culinary stations representing different countries, they collect stamps to showcase their culinary adventures.

BENTO BOX

After filling the stamp book, students will be rewarded with a specially designed Bento Box to remind them of the diverse global flavors they have explored.

Country cuisine

Tacos (Mexico)

Pasta Carbonara (Italy)

Hummus with Pita (Lebanon)

Hamburger (America)

Chicken Satay (Indonesia)

Bibimbap (South Korea) Butter Chicken (India) Goulash (Hungary)

Falafel (Egypt)

Jerk Chicken (Jamaica)

View at the festival

lessons learned

Organizing the Global Goodies International Food Festival provided our design team with invaluable insights. We encountered the challenge of seamlessly integrating art and augmented reality in a kid-friendly manner, while ensuring alignment with the cultural theme of the festival. Choosing an ice sculpture as both a captivating artistic centerpiece and a functional element to keep the mochi cold proved to be a strategic decision that enhanced the festival experience. Navigating the realm of augmented reality presented its own set of challenges, compelling us to carefully consider our approach. Ultimately, we opted to engage children in interactive 'cooking' experiences through augmented reality, allowing them to explore and create dishes from diverse cultures. This gamified approach not only made learning enjoyable but also served as a powerful educational tool.

conclusion

The Global Goodies festival has left a lasting impression on all who were involved. With its diverse array of culinary offerings from 10 different countries, coupled with innovative experiences like 'cooking' with augmented reality, bento box fun, and the stamp journey, Global Goodies has truly brought the world to Japanese school kids doorsteps. Reflecting on the process, we realized that orchestrating a festival tailored for elementary students is far more intricate than anticipated. Despite the challenges, the experience provided invaluable lessons in creativity, adaptability, and the importance of catering to diverse audience needs. Global Goodies isn't just a festival; it's a celebration of unity, diversity, and the shared love of good food from around the globe. Until the next Global Goodies adventure, may the memories of this festival continue to inspire us to embrace and cherish the richness of our global community.

references

Schools—Explore japan—Kids web japan—Web japan. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2024, from https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/schools/index.html

Srts lessons and inspirations from japan | safe routes partnership. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2024, from https://www.saferoutespartnership.org/resourcecenter/japan#:~:text=In%20Japan%2C%20all%20children%20are,system%20and%20navigate%20other%20neighborhoods.

Some images created by CHATGPT

Appendix

Personas

Mood Board