Smarker

Markers that allow children to draw easily with self-made edible ink on plates.

As a final bachelor project, I designed Smarker. Smarker is designed to stimulate several valuable goals: First, Smarker aims to stimulate a more mindfulness-eating environment. User testing indicates that drawing on a plate before supper stimulates this environment. This is important because a mindfulness-eating environment stimulates the awareness towards food (Jeanne Dalen et al, 2010), which may contribute to a healthy eating behaviour (Bruns, 2013).
Second, Smarker aims to provide an environment where children are more likely to taste the food that is eventually served. Additionally, when drawing and maybe tasting the ink beforehand, they already taste ingredients of the served dish. Tasting is important, as research has shown that after eight or nine taste exposures, the appreciation towards that particular food increases (Anantha Lakkakulaa et al, 2010).
Finally, previous research has shown that while children play with food, they will learn more and faster about food (Lynn K. Perry et al, 2013).