Designers
Designers
Designers
Kanú
Device Free Dinner Baskets
Designers
Bianca Cooper
Key Words
SUMMARY
How would you feel about sharing a silent meal where everyone is focused on their phones? Drawing from my Peruvian heritage, where dining embodies family, tradition, and connection, I partnered with Peruvian artisans to create Kanu – device-free dinner baskets. Kanu offers a solution to revive genuine connections at the table and will be exclusively available in Lima, a city with over 60,000 restaurants and where 88.4% of households own smartphones. These baskets seamlessly blend elegance with functionality, featuring wireless charging capabilities to ensure your phone remains powered while you enjoy your meal. Join us in this movement. Unplug. Connect. Dine.
challenge
Through my exploration, I identified several stakeholder gaps and opportunities related to the effects of smartphones on social interactions during meals. Articles highlighted the negative impacts of excessive phone usage and addiction-like behaviors, raising concerns about future generations' ability to connect authentically. Interviews revealed the extent of cellphone addiction, particularly among younger generations, and surveys provided fascinating insights into users' willingness to participate in device-free dinner experiences given the right incentive. The dining industry is witnessing a growing trend of urging customers to disconnect from their phones during meals. However, existing baskets lack attention to both form and function.
Outcome
Kanú baskets are curated not only to reflect and complement the restaurant's ambiance and aesthetic but also to provide compelling incentives while remaining practical for diners. Expert feedback emphasized convenience, resulting in the integration of wireless chargers into the baskets. Prototyping underscored the necessity for clear instructions, hence the inclusion of a special note at the center that reads: “I invite you to leave your phones here.” Additionally, three general models will be available for purchase online, catering to families looking to enhance their home dining experiences. Together, let's make every meal a moment to savor, detached from the distractions of the digital world.
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