1. Summarize the problem you set out to solve. What was the challenge posed to you? Did it get you excited and why?

Thrive Portion Ware arose after a year of research and concept development revolved around the topic of obesity prevention done for my undergrad industrial design senior thesis. The thesis prompt was the umbrella topic of “Health”. I was personally drawn to the obesity issue because of a cousin I grew up with was on his way to obesity but unlike many millions of Americans he was able to change his life through motivation and dedication. Growing up together, I remembered even family members making fun of him; I could only how much worst it was for him at school. The thought makes me cringe now as an adult. To witness someone so close to me transform with so much will power inspired me to change my diet and lifestyle too and I did. Could my cousin have started a healthier eating habit at an earlier age instead of waiting till college? I would like to think so. Obesity does not have a solve all solution, but I wanted to start by designing a preventative tool that enable people to help themselves become consciously aware of their consumption level.

2. What point of view did you bring to the challenge? Was there anything additional that you wanted to achieve with this project or bring to this project that was not part of the original brief?

I know obesity is a huge multifaceted issue that isn’t going to have one nice neat solution. There isn’t going to be one. I ran into many circles and much frustration focusing too much on a specific age group and its needs. I focused on children, teens, young adults, adults; cycling through each one repeatedly. At the end of it, the best approach was the simplest one, to remake a familiar object people can easily use. I did not want it to be a fad consumer object promising easy miracles, only to be abandoned a few months later once the novelty wore off. I want it to be a product used repeatedly and easily where it will eventually have a positive psychological effect on people’s eating habits. Thrive Portion Ware works as a catalyst for that bigger change by helping people accustom to consuming less first.

3. When designing this project, whose interests did you consider? (Discuss various stakeholders, audiences, retailing, manufacturing, assembly, distribution, etc., for example.)

I did not want to offend anyone with this project. Although the project was created in response to the burgeoning obesity populace, Thrive Portion Ware is meant for anyone who wants to develop a habit in consciously consuming less. Thrive will be made through a two part mold and out of one material, ceramic, to eliminate any unneeded dyes and excess material. Ideally, the portion ware will be made a reality in the United States because even though it is cheaper to produce elsewhere, I want to help support the waning American manufacturing industries even if it just a minor project. The price point will definitely be affordable for the average household income. I designed Thrive Portion Ware to be easily made and accessible, not sold exclusively at boutique shops. I considered the medical community’s opinion as well, would my design be something they would support and be confident in suggesting people to use? Or would they consider it a bogus idea with little or no merit in impacting someone’s eating habit for the better?

4. Describe the rigor that informed your design. (Research, ethnography, subject matter experts, materials exploration, technology, iteration, testing, etc., as applicable.) If this was a strictly research or strategy project, please provide more detail here.

The cold hard fact at the end of the day is this, In the US today, over 100 million adults and 24 million children are considered obese. The numbers will continue to rise in the coming years since there is an 80% chance of kids becoming obese if their parents are. From interviews, studying, reading, and even forum stalking, I was cussed out and banned from certain sites because I myself was not obese and understandably I was considered a troll and outsider. Nevertheless, I stuck with it and found people suffering from obesity who were willing to talk to me. I talked to school administrators, day care center owners, parents and many more before deciding on the route of manifesting the idea of learned behavioral portion control into a product. From there, it was deciding on what form and product would best suit that goal of learning portion control. I explored everyday objects from lunchboxes, toys, furniture, packaging, and more before deciding on some of the simplest and most familiar objects associated with eating: plates and cups.
Thrive Portion Ware was made possible through intense research and communication with various experts in various fields.

5. What is the social value of your design? (Gladdening, educational, economic, paradigm-shifting, sustainable, labor-mindful, environmental, cultural, etc.) How does it earn its keep in the world?

America is known for its obesity problem and trendy fad diets. But obesity is an issue that is afflicting other nations, such as China as well. I want to help people slowly unlearn the huge portion eating behavior we seemed to have developed over the past few decades. Thrive Portion Ware taps into that psychology of overeating and tries to slowly reverse all the years of “MORE IS BETTER! XXL!” marketing psychology developed by various companies and instilled into the cultural norm. If people learn to eat the right portions, and therefore ideally prevent or lower the incidence of obesity in the first place, medical expenses and cost related to it would not cost United States $147 billion annually, which is more than the $93 billion spent on cancer. Can those dollars go to something else such as Education? Definitely. Thrive Portion Ware may not solve the obesity problem, but it is a prevention tool and catalyst to help people get started on that path.
Empowering words are placed on the back of plate so users will see it every time they approach a dish rack right before a meal. It is the intent of having those words come back to the users as well as seeing the raised 20% surface when they are eating so people will develop the habit of consciously eating less.

6. If you could have done one thing differently with the project, what would you have changed?

I would have consulted the insurance companies and designed with their responses in mind. I think they would have offered great preventative information and case studies of various insurance claims related to obesity issues.