Search

Object Rebirth: Let’s Put Food on That!

For this months’ column, we want to inspire others to see the potential in everyday objects. Not to take things for face value, but to go on the journey of imagining the possibilities. What other function could this object fulfill?

Re-imaging everyday objects might be one of my favorite pastimes. Luckily, as the Creative Director at Pinch Food Design, I get to exercise this skill often. From trays to displays, we consistently try to outdo ourselves by creating unique and delightful food furniture. Now, many times what we want to achieve does not exist, and we design products from scratch. This is also quite fulfilling – to see a gap and fill it with invention. Other times, we stumble across an existing item, like a knob, or a bird feeder and say, “let’s put food on that!”

Here are some of our favorite examples of object rebirth:

multi level white and wood bird feeder

BEFORE: ROIJÉ’S Dish of Desire Bird Feeder

AFTER: Bird Feeders suspended + redistributed to serve soft shell mussel a la crème | sociable garlic bread | edible squid ink “shell”

BEFORE: Tina Frey’s Wall Hook

AFTER: Tina Frey’s Wall Hooks scattered and arranged to pop up and serve torched pork belly | shiso | shrimp | spicy aioli

BEFORE: Finell Sod Glass Drying Rack

AFTER: Welding two Finell racks into a V form to pass homemade strawberry basil + lemon pistachio sorbet cones with edible flower petals

BEFORE / AFTER: Brelli Sun Parasol grommeted to carry maple sugar + orange zest churros

TJ Girard is a sought-after food designer and creative consultant, celebrated for staging theatrical, interactive food + beverage experiences. She now resides in California where her creativity is solar powered! TJ writes the Design Milk column called Taste.