The exhibition B(i)TES reimagines the future of Food Design

B(i)TES – Mapping Food Design through Phygital Food Systems, an exhibition proposed by Elisava in collaboration with FORK, Food Design Lab Lisbon and Foodscapes, reimagines the concept of recipes as a powerful interface for envisioning the future of Food Design. This exhibition sees recipes as more than just cooking instructions but a bridge between the physical and digital worlds, reflecting our interconnected cultural, ecological, and political realities. Visionary food designers were encouraged to expose comprehensive recipes beyond the kitchen, mapping new territories and showing environmental impact on political structures and social systems.

Each speculative recipe is a conceptual tool for designers, cooks, architects, and other experts to explore regenerative food futures, sustainability, and community well-being. By merging physical processes with digital innovation, the exhibition uses recipes to address global challenges and reconsider the role of food in environmental stewardship, social cohesion, and cultural adaptation. The exhibition underscores the pivotal role of design in reshaping food systems and encourages the audience to actively envision food as a catalyst for shaping resilient, inclusive futures.

EFOOD2024 is delighted to present B(i)TES—Mapping Food Design through Phygital Food Systems, a one-of-a-kind exhibition celebrating the evolution of Food Design. This exceptional event, running from October to November 2024 in Barcelona, is a convergence of international food designers, innovators, and interdisciplinary teams. Together, they will redefine the future of food in a digitally integrated, physically conscious world.

In an era defined by rapid technological progress, climate challenges, and evolving cultural norms, the role of food designers in shaping sustainable futures is increasingly significant. This exhibition delves into the intersection of food and design through the concept of ‘phygital’—a fusion of physical and digital experiences. It challenges participants to present, speculative recipes that mirror the intricate relationship between design, food, culture, politics, and ecology.

The authors were commissioned to create ‘total recipes’, incorporating ingredients and the political, infrastructural, and ecological dimensions required to (re)produce them. These recipes will be presented through different mediums, including objects, performances, essays, and digital formats, providing a visionary glimpse into future food systems.

Proposed by Elisava, curated by from FORK, Elisava (Mariana Eidler), Food Design Lab Lisbon (Ricardo Bonacho), and Foodscapes (Eduardo Castillo Vinuesa), B(i)TES will feature groundbreaking projects that emphasize community engagement, cultural adaptation, and sustainability in the food landscape. Among the highlights is exploring phygital food experiences, where the physical act of eating merges with digital interaction, fostering a more profound, multi-sensory connection with food.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the contributions of food designers over the three decades,” said the curators of EFOOD2024. “Through this exhibition, we aim to inspire dialogue and collaboration around the urgent need for including Design to work towards sustainable food systems. Food design can help to find the key to answering some of the most pressing global challenges.”

The exhibition invites the public, policymakers, organizations, and community leaders to engage with speculative food scenarios and embrace food design as a tool for innovation and transformation.

Among the participants we will have Mugaritz (Spain), Food Design Lab Barcelona by Elisava (Spain), FORK (Belgium), Makeat (Spain), Emilie Baltz (USA), Ferran Adrià (Spain), Pedro Reissig (Argentina), Honey and Bunny (Austria), Luki Huber (Spain), Mariana Eidler (Spain), Ricardo Bonacho (Portugal), Aracha Krasae-In (Tailand), Sergí Freixes (Spain), Jashan Shippy (India), Ivana Carmen Mottola (Italy), Mariana Sanchez Salvador (Portugal), Suzana Parreira (Portugal), Lígia Afreixo (Portugal), Corée-Baillais (France), Ferrán Navarro (Spain), José Antonio Sada Sánchez Mejorada (Mexico), Papila Studio (Spain).