RCA collaborate with Sodexo to design sustainable solutions for digitising food

The RCA's (Royal College of Art) School of Design has collaborated with Sodexo, the global leader in sustainable food services and valued experiences, to present a new studio project: Eats and Algorithms. This innovative project will provide students the opportunity to design new experiences and sustainable solutions for digitising food in an industry context, creating real world change.

Eats and Algorithms will seek interdisciplinary design solutions that have the potential to be implemented into Sodexo’s operations within 2 - 5 years. Led by senior RCA School of Design academics and 9 interdisciplinary teams consisting of Masters students from different programmes (MA Service Design, MA Textiles, MDes Design Futures, MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering and MA Design Products), students will take part in seminars and workshops centred around three core themes:

• Food experience and new societal and lifestyle innovation. Delivering a top-tier consumer experience that focuses on food in a hybrid-working environment and considers social, societal and environmental impacts.
• Sustainability by design. Developing sustainable design solutions to reduce environmental footprints, such as cutting carbon emissions, promoting local and responsible food choices, and reducing food waste.
• Technological, digital and AI transformation. Creating new digital and AI-driven services that enhance consumer experiences with food in the workplace while promoting the well-being and health of communities.

The project has already received over 100 student applicants. Student groups will receive mentorship and feedback from expert speakers and professionals in the fields of AI in Design, Sustainability by Design, and Consumer Behaviour in Food. Final projects will be presented to leaders from Sodexo and RCA in early spring.