Culinary design thinking

What on earth is that?

I would choose food over post it notes anytime. Wouldn’t you?

My journey into design thinking was gradual. I studied traditional design; landscape architecture and urban design. While I loved how revealing the design process was, I often felt that it wasn’t well connected to the human experience. Designers put form above all, than come function, then the user.

I opened Asheville Mountain Kitchen in 2015 and started working with companies through interactive culinary team-building activities. Everything was going great, companies loved the experience (who doesn’t love eating and drinking?). I always felt that while the structure of team building and food connection touched people deeply, it lacked substance, that it could go deeper. It was so obvious that by observing the participants, you could instantly reveal people’s strength and weakness. I felt that it was worth exploring the possibilities of such activity and see where it could go.

In 2018 I was asked by two different clients whether I can bring my activity into a conference setting, without a kitchen. I needed to design a workshop that incorporates food, design and some kind of team activities. I wasn’t aware of the term design thinking at the time.

While thinking about the workshop, my design background kept coming forth, and there it was, I combined design thinking problem solving methodologies with food. I created a workshop called “thinking like a designer”.

Design thinking workshop are led by people without a visual communication background. Therefore the tools they utilize are office tools, most commonly sticky notes, pen and paper with basic drawing skills.

Drawing as a tool can present barriers for most people who aren’t trained in visual communication.

Working with food presents an alternative that holds less judgement and can be approached more purely by anyone with or without visual communication training.

If your team is interested in a fun workshop that brings people together, online or offline. A workshop that can be kept light or go deeper, that can get your team to think innovatively and come up with solutions to everyday problems. Look no further.

Give us a call today to fine out more!