Progetto europeo

FEAST is a European project that uses collaborative approaches to promote awareness among producers and consumers, enabling them to make healthier and more sustainable food choices. Acting as a facilitator in the application of co-design, innovation, and prototyping methods, OpenDot has organized and implemented five hackathons in Europe, engaging young designers, vulnerable communities, and research centers in practical workshops that, through the creation of prototypes, have explored new ways of producing, distributing, and consuming food. The five-year project will end in 2027.

Developed together with 35 partners throughout Europe, including Research Centres and Universities, Institutions and Foundations, and associations active in the food supply chain, the FEAST project is an activator of research actions, development and sharing of solutions and experiments, intervening at all levels - from the producer to the table - in contrast to a food system that today mainly sees the motivations of large food companies prevail at the expense of the needs of more socially vulnerable sections of the population, economic, cultural or environmental.

The role of OpenDot in FEAST is also to act as a facilitator of innovation and experimentation processes: therefore, a series of training meetings on co-design and prototyping methods with a maker approach have been designed and administered to the 12 project Living Labs, and the use of tools for observation and evaluation of ideas.

In May 2023 took place the first hackathon in Milan: 20 designers, makers, and researchers divided into 4 heterogeneous groups competed in OpenDot and at the Hub of Terre des Hommes for a 3-day intensive and one-week work, to develop new creative solutions to the challenges identified in the Milanese food context.

Joined by OpenDot designers and makers, international mentors, Feast project partners, and industry experts, the 4 teams competed to win 2 months of mentorship, fab lab prototyping, and acceleration of the winning idea.

More details on the results of the Milan edition at this link. Milan winning project and final concept prototype at this link.

The second hackathon takes place in London from 22 to 24 February 2024, in collaboration with King's Health Partners, HIN - Health Innovation Network and NHS South East London Integrated Care System. The aim of this edition is to support people to live healthier lifestyles and adopt healthier diets, create a positive step-change to improve health, and reduce health inequalities.

More details on the London edition, and presentation of the 2 winning projects, at this link.