PREFERRED FUTURES
School project for Designskolen Kolding in collaboration with Jesper Mumm Sylvest, 2019
"MAN IS A RATIONAL ANIMAL" / "THI ET FORNUFTIGT DYR ER MENNESKET"
​
"For the parasite it is optimally, if parasite and host are well-balanced in their relation, since it is unfavourable for the parasite to destroy its own livingspace. In most parasite-host-relations small shifts can cause the death of the host; eg. if too many parasites occur in the host at once or if the host in other ways is weakened." - Den store danske, Gyldendal. Hentet 22. marts 2019 (translated from danish)
​
'Sønderjysk kaffebord' is an old danish tradition in the southern part of Jylland. Twenty-one cakes are send around the table at once forcing the guests to pile it on their plate. Seven dry cakes, seven soft cakes and seven hard cakes. It became at one point a competition between housewives to make the most tastefull and beautiful cakes, and so it is not well seen saying no to one. Cakes as 'gode råd' (good advises) and 'ingenting' (nothing) is served lastly, because there is always space for nothing and who would not like a good advice almost through those Twenty-one sweet, soft, hard, dry once.
​
With 'Sønderjysk kaffebord' as an example we question the rationality of mankind today.
So here you go, please help yourself.
CASE
Today we live in a world under hugh pressure from all sides because of overpopulation and overconsumption when we rapidly drain out habitat for ressources.
​
Through speculative prototyping and critical design this project challenged us to identify and address a future challenge in an exhibition piece.
​
We wished to create a piece that would surprise, provoke or evoke other strong feelings or reaktions in the audiens to spark reflection and start a conversation about sustainable future scenarios and potentials of tomorrow.
APPROACH
Hvordan kom vi i tanke om at lave et sønderjysk kagebord?
Taking all elements of a 'Sønderjysk kagebord' into consideration when developing shapes, textures, recipes for the cakes on our sønderjysk kaffebord, to create recognition for the people having a relation to sønderjysk kaffebord or for those experiencing it for the first time. so it doesn't just become 'a' or 'any' kaffebord, but a Sønderjysk kaffebord.
Embroidering statements and assertions on the tablecloth - questioning rationality of mankind.
​
Glass is blown by Rikke Stenholt, Stenholdglas, Aarhus, DK.