Komoon

How might we improve mealtime experiences for families with a child with an eating disorder? Is there a way to help parents to support their child better during meals at home?

About the project

For parents of children with an eating disorder, family meals become a real struggle. Komoon comprises a product-service-system that helps those parents in dealing with shared eating in an encouraging and effective way.

The support that the product-service system provides, enables the parents to determine and carry out an appropriate approach during the meals with their family.

This project was developed within the context of my thesis in order to get my Master’s Degree in Product Development (Industrial Design).

A human centered approach...

Interviews

Through in-depth interviews with on the one hand parents with children with an eating disorder and on the other hand therapists, dieticians, psychologists and other professionals in the field, I acquired insights in the complex disease and it’s effects on the family.

Brainstorms

A lot of brainstorm sessions were organized during the design process. I organized sessions together with other designers, and with parents of teens and with experts on the field. A lot of ideas to fit the needs of the target group were generated during the sessions.

User tests

A lot of different prototypes were made. Families with teenagers and families with teenagers that have an eating disorder tested those prototypes during a period and gave a lot of feedback on them. The insights I acquired from the tests made sure that the final design of the personal element fit the behaviour and needs of the families.