The Decorators, a design collective, created a series of inflatable furniture pieces, including a 12-person table that helps to bring people together over the process of food fermentation. The Kimchi-Pool is for communally preparing kimchi and it takes the form of a basin-style table surrounded by irregularly formed seats.
At a time when people are wary of both bacteria and intimate human interactions, this project sees design as a way to bring people together, rather than leaving them feeling afraid and alienated. People can sit or kneel to make kimchi together, and as well as being functional, the artful design has been brought to life with performance; the kimchi table was used by the Kimjang Project, a spinoff of the Kingston Korea Festival.
Collaborative Meal-Making Tables
The Decorators Created a 12-Person Table for Making Kimchi
Trend Themes
1. Collaborative Meal-making - Innovative interactive tables that facilitate communal food preparation, providing an opportunity to bring people together through a shared experience
2. Inflatable Furniture - Inflatable furniture as a lightweight, portable and versatile solution that could be used for gatherings and events
3. Artful Design for Communal Activities - Artful design that serves a specific communal purpose and creates an enjoyable and memorable experience
Industry Implications
1. Furniture - Designers and manufacturers of interactive and inflatable furniture pieces seeking to add value to the consumers' social experiences
2. Hospitality - Hotels, event spaces, and restaurants that could use interactive and distinctive furniture pieces to create unique and memorable dining experiences
3. Food and Beverage - Food companies that could utilize interactive and artful tables to create distinctive food preparation experiences and attract a new client base