Creating products to combat corn allergies…
is a lot harder than it sounds. And not just because corn allergies are somewhat uncommon, but because corn is in everything.
dESIGN Research
This meant getting an grasp of what it’s like to live with a corn allergy. These are just some of the things people with corn allergies can’t indulge in:
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Soft drinks and fruit flavored beverages
Breakfast cereals
Candy and sweets
Salad dressings and sauces
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Alcoholic drinks like vodka, whiskey, and rum
Hand sanitizers anddisinfectants
Mouthwashes
Fuel
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Fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut
Pickles and olives
Bread (as a dough conditioner)
Skin care (as an exfoliant)
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Asian cuisine and instant noodle seasoning
Snack foods like chips and crackers
Canned soups and broths
Processed meats like sausages
Synthesis & Brainstorming
Developing quick, 30-second-sketched screen-based, non-screen based and analog products regardless of feasibility
Final Documentation
See the full project below
Brainstorming
Theme
interviewees with less intense food allergies slowly regress back to old eating habits when they gain autonomy over their own food options due to inaccessibility and frustration
insight
lack of convenience in allergy-friendly food options push those affected to assimilate to “normal” diet habits, pressuring them to either downplay allergies, attempt to ignore them, or suffer consequences.
How might we make allergy-friendly food options more accessible and convenient, so that individuals with less life-threatening food allergies can maintain safe eating habits without feeling pressured to revert to unsafe dietary choices?
opportunity
Final doCUMENTATION
Two Final Products:
The HFCS Soda Machine Filter responds to a key challenge: the prevalence of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in drinks at fast food chains. Many people with allergies or sensitivities to corn-based ingredients, like HFCS, struggle to find safe beverage options. The filter directly addresses this issue by allowing consumers to enjoy soda without the HFCS, removing a common allergen. This idea is particularly useful for consumers with corn allergies, health-conscious individuals avoiding HFCS, and even businesses aiming to cater to these groups. Through research and class discussions, many shared stories of frustration when finding hidden allergens in common foods, highlighting the opportunity for this innovation.
A High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) Filter
Challenge Addressed
The Safe Savings App tackles a different challenge: the financial and time burdens on those trying to find allergen-free products. From interviews and research, it became evident that people with allergies often have to do significant research and spend more on allergen-free products. The app helps by offering points and coupons for allergen-friendly items, making these products more affordable and accessible. It’s useful to anyone managing food allergies, such as parents shopping for children with allergies, individuals with restricted diets, or caregivers. This idea is rooted in the struggles of managing high grocery costs and searching for safe foods.
Safe Savings App
Challenge Addressed
Key Design Decisions
I included a rewards system where points accumulate for allergen-friendly purchases, which was based on feedback from users who expressed the need for financial incentives to offset the higher costs of safe products.The interface prominently displays allergen information on the product page, inspired by stories of consumers missing allergen warnings on grocery items.
I made sure to include a coupons page in addition to a redeeming rewards page, allowing users to see current sales at their grocery store of choice.
