Biome is a speculative design project envisioning the future of household sustainability in 2040. It addresses global challenges like food scarcity, rising costs, and declining nutrition by reimagining food waste management, exploring how user-centered design can support self-sustaining lifestyles in an uncertain future. In a world where climate change and resource depletion make sustainability essential, Biome transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich outputs, empowering users to enhance their nutrition while reducing environmental impact. The companion app offers further customization, allowing users to tailor waste outputs to their needs.
Sarah Nuñez
Shaheer Saif
Product Design
User Experience Design
User Interface Design
User Interface Designer
TREND ANALYSISTo design a user-centered solution, I conducted extensive research into current and emerging social, technological, and environmental trends. We then analyzed how these trends might evolve by 2040, anticipating future societal shifts and user needs.
- Personalized Nutrition will become a necessity as individuals increasingly rely on tailored dietary interventions and nutrient supplements to address declining food quality and optimize their health.
- AI-driven smart ecosystems for waste optimization will define future households, where IoT-enabled appliances leverage AI to connect seamlessly and optimize resource use.
- Circular economies will define sustainable households, where waste-processing technologies seamlessly repurpose discarded materials into valuable resources.
AREA OF OPPORTUNITYThis research presented with an area of opportunity: households need a sustainable and efficient solution to repurpose waste, enhance nutritional intake, and reduce reliance on external food systems.
THE BIG QUESTION
How can we transform food waste into a valuable resource that enhances health and sustainability in a future of food scarcity and declining nutritional quality?