ReformEat

What it does

ReformEat addresses how the ever-growing supplement industry has become oversaturated with generic, formless and practically nameless products which many consumers continue to take out of habit. This system leverages technology to fabricate snacks on demand.

Your inspiration

The core idea for ReformEat stemmed from a desire to transform the often-mundane act of taking supplements into an engaging and personalised experience, whilst utilising rapid additive manufacturing at the consumer-point-of-contact. By integrating cutting-edge technology with food design, the aim was to create a system that allows for on-demand fabrication of customised, nutritious snacks, making supplementation both appealing and user-centric. The system - both the fabricating machine and design application - decentralise the ability for consumers to make choices over their nutrition along with their lifestyle. 

How it works

The ReformEat system consists of two main components: the ReformEat Fabricator™ v1.0 and the ReformEat Food Design Interface™ v1.0. The Fabricator is a desktop device designed for real-time food production. Users define their desired nutrition by adding nutrient capsules, which contain powdered food or supplements along with a binding agent like gelatine or agar (a vegan option). The Food Design Interface, a user-friendly application, allows for customisation of the gummy snack's form and texture. This interface sends the design specifications to the Fabricator, which then precisely dispenses the chosen ingredients layer by layer to create the customised snack. This two-step process allows for personalised nutrition and aesthetic control, offering a new world of possibilities in food design.

Design process

The design process for ReformEat began with extensive research into the supplement market, including data and trend analysis, during my MA in Design Products. This ideation phase focused on defining the project's context and strategy. Following the conceptualisation, the next major step involved the hands-on development of the ReformEat system. This intensive phase, spanning 7-8 weeks, encompassed building and designing the Fabricator and its complementary app from scratch. This involved: Mechanical Design: Developing the physical structure and moving parts of the Fabricator to ensure precise movement and deposition of materials. The current iteration, ReformEat Fabricator™ v1.0 , is a result of this iterative mechanical design process, with an emphasis on robust construction as seen in the machine's framework and the extrusion mechanism. Electrical Systems: Integrating the necessary electronic components to control the Fabricator's functions, including motors and sensors. Software Development: Creating the ReformEat Food Design Interface™ v1.0, the application that allows users to customise their snacks and communicate with the Fabricator. This early development app is continually being refined. Prototyping and Testing: An experimentation phase continues.

How it is different

ReformEat's uniqueness stems from its holistic approach to personalised nutrition and food design, setting it apart from existing supplement products and traditional food fabrication methods. The incorporation of additive rapid manufacturing allows for precise control and absolute repeatability of end product, in this case nutrition snacks, essentially offering consumers a zero-waste raw snack generator on their kitchen countertop. Most similar products in the supplement industry are simply pre-made pills or powders, offering no customisation beyond flavour or dosage. ReformEat, however, introduces a 2 step process: control over nutrition and form. This allows users to not only choose their powdered food or supplement and binding agent (gelatine or agar) but also to personalise the gummy snack through the Food Design Interface™ v1.0. The Fabricator™ then produces the custom snack in real-time.

Future plans

The experimentation with the working ReformEat system is ongoing, focused on continuous optimisation. A key area of focus is refining the use of different binder aggregates and compositions. I am actively testing various types of gelatine and exploring other binding agents beyond agar, aiming to understand how their molecular structures and concentrations influence the final texture, stability, and printability of the gummy snacks. This involves meticulously adjusting ratios and processing parameters to achieve desired consistencies, ranging from firm and chewy to softer, melt-in-your-mouth textures.

Awards

RCA 2025 Design Products MA (Showcasing and Exhibiting)