about.
The process.
Result.
Final
touch.
Enriching the dining experience through tangible food design.
Final Touch is a Final Master project developed in collaboration with the 2-Michelin-star restaurant De Treeswijkhoeve, exploring how user-centred design can enrich the fine-dining experience without compromising culinary tradition.
Set within a fast-evolving gastronomic landscape, this project applies a user-centred, material-driven design approach to fine dining. Through a non-linear, iterative and co-creative process, the design enhances sensory engagement, interaction, and storytelling at the table. Inspired by biomimicry, seasonal ingredients, and the restaurant’s forest surroundings, Final Touch creates a subtle yet meaningful moment of surprise that deepens the guest’s connection to the dish.
The project began with an in-depth exploration of De Treeswijkhoeve’s identity, values, and guest journey. Through on-site observation, experience mapping, literature research, and conversations with staff, I gained a holistic understanding of the restaurant’s philosophy, creative kitchen process, and multi-sensory dining experience.
To explore future possibilities while preserving the restaurant’s essence, I facilitated a co-creation session with chefs, the sommelier, host, and kitchen staff. Using sensory and inspiration tools alongside rapid prototyping, we identified key opportunity areas such as guest involvement, locality, transparency, sensory stimulation, and playful surprise.
These insights guided the ideation phase, where concepts were developed around seasonality, ingredients, and nature-driven storytelling. Continuous feedback helped narrow the focus to enhancing the seasonal strawberry dessert through an interactive spoon and presentation element.
Throughout the process, prototyping and reflection ensured usability, emotional impact, and feasibility within a professional kitchen and service context. The final redesign resulted in a biomimetic spoon with an integrated pipette and organic holder, refined through clay modelling, 3D printing, ergonomic testing, and sensory evaluation.
The project concluded with a final evaluation, confirming the concept’s positive effect on the dining experience by strengthening sensory engagement, interaction, and storytelling at the table.
Final Touch is a tangible food design concept that subtly enriches the fine-dining experience. By combining UX thinking, product design, and gastronomy, the project creates an elegant moment of interaction that visually and physically connects guests to the story behind the dish—enhancing enjoyment while preserving the restaurant’s refined character.
Industry: Product Design
Client: De Treeswijkhoeve
Year: 2025