CLARO - The display storage for fruits
This project was my graduate thesis at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It is the outcome of research and design done from Spring 2018-Spring 2019.
Households waste the most food (more than supermarkets, distribution centers, and farms), and so I looked at opportunities to reduce food waste at home.
The goal
Fruits are one of the most wasted food groups. The numbness and familiarity of the counter top and the fridge’s ability to store but hide away food creates a chain of forgetfulness and loss of desire for the fruits. My goal is to bring back the desire we felt for the fruits which had felt at the point of purchase. Thus encouraging consumption and reducing food waste.
PRIMARY RESEARCH and insights
Distribution Center
I visited a distribution center in Chicago to find out how they preserve produce and ensure quality and flavor profile.
“Shipment companies will not even load the truck if the temperature
is not at exactly 38°F (the optimum temperature for oranges)”
The carefully constructed chain that is created at every level of the food supply chain to ensure food freshness is broken when the consumer brings the food home
Household visits
I visited 3 different households and went grocery shopping with them to understand their motivations. I discovered that people don’t consciously waste food and they do not always actively look for products that will help them reduce waste. They are also motivated by beauty and if an object is desirable they are more likely to use it.
“We usually keep fruits on the countertop but that space is
so common that we tend to overlook it.”
ideation
3D visualization helped figure out the scale as well as details like number of shelves and overall form
In context sketching helped visualize the form living in the home and helped narrow down the choices
Visible and compact
As I started getting closer to the form, I worked on the details such as proportions and materials using CAD.
Final form
Distribution centers, transportation companies and supermarkets ensure freshness of produce by keeping them in the right temperature and humidity conditions. Claro adapts this for a the home at a much smaller, attainable scale thus linking the chain of freshness back.
Full Scale Prototype
CLARO
Meaning “to clarify” or “make more valuable” in latin.
context
At home
All fruits that are normally haphazardly placed in different locations in the home can now go into one space where it can be admired and consumed.
Why an object just for fruits?
Objects that cater to help with display and preservation of specific foods already exist in the market: such as the wine fridge and the Kimchi fridge.
The solution that I am proposing to help reduce food waste takes inspiration from such existing objects.
UIC Year End Show
This project was exhibited at the Graduate thesis show at the University of Illinois at Chicago on May 2019