Seeing Food is a project incubated at MIT Open Documentary Lab, focusing on the exploration of low-carbon foods through cultural and environmental perspectives, while engaging participants in a participatory narrative.
Gathering data through interviews, surveys, and comprehensive reports from both local and global sources, the
project constructs a spatial map illustrating the intangible aspects of food consumption behaviors.
Utilizing the Unity game engine and machine learning-powered generative agents, ‘Seeing Food‘ transforms its documentary format into an interactive exhibition with serious game design. This format serves as an educational tool, informing the public about sustainable food consumption practices while encouraging active engagement in shaping the narrative. Participants immerse themselves in scenarios, interacting with diverse ingredients such as bioluminescent microgreens and 3D-printed protein crystals, experiencing not only what’s on the table, but also the simulated environment from the impacts of their diet choices.