Ling Tung University

The topic of sustainability occupies young designers all over the world: this generation of designers wants to raise awareness by translating problems visually and making them understandable. The same goes for Zhuo-Rong Li, Yu-Lun Chen, Dai-Jin Li, Hsin-Ning Kuo and Jing-Xiu Hu, who study at Ling Tung University and are devoted to rendering the microplastics in our food three-dimensionally.

Interview with Ling Tung University

Red Dot: With “Plastic in our Food”, you took a haptic approach to implementing a pressing environmental problem. How did you address this topic?
Ling Tung University: The central question was how we can sensitise the public to the plastic issue. The implementation had to establish a connection to people’s lives, one that would attract attention. Therefore, the visual considerations quickly went in the direction of “plasticising food”.

How much research was necessary beforehand?
To understand the spread of microplastics, we first went to the rivers of central Taiwan to study the situation on the ground. Then we investigated the hazards that plastic waste can cause. Through relevant research data, we discovered the extent to which microplastics get into food. After further analysis of the data, we finally selected 20 suitable foods to highlight the issue of plasticisation.

At the moment, is environmental protection the issue that concerns you most?
Yes, environmental issues are very important to us. However, in our opinion, these are not singular issues, but a comprehensive crisis of survival caused by global social and economic problems as well as by climate change. People may be aware of the danger, but most fail to understand the urgency and are not willing to pay for it. As young designers, we hope to reach people all over the world, encouraging them to pay attention to sustainability issues and to take action.

What role does an accessible visualisation play in this?
Data are cold facts. People understand them, but data do not trigger the necessary impulse to take action. That’s why we use our visual thinking to present the issue of microplastic pollution three-dimensionally and thus in a comprehensible form. This makes it easier for people to interpret the data.

In the work, graphic and product design almost merge. Are the boundaries between the design disciplines dissolving more and more?
We believe that with social issues you should focus on thinking about the nature of the problem, and then choose the best possible medium for visualising a solution. The focus is not on the form, but on how to communicate effectively. In this way, graphic design can develop more organically and merge with other design disciplines such as product or exhibition design. This will promote the future development of graphic design and lead to more creativity and diversity.