Luna: A Mindful Sauce Dish for a Meditative Dining Experience

Bringing Mindfulness to Your Dining Experience

Luna is a sauce dish uniquely designed to bring a new phase of mindfulness to your dining experience. Pouring sauce in a steady stream into the Luna dish reveals the phases of the moon, a process that evokes a meditative presence of mind at the start of the meal.

Made from maple wood, Luna was purposely hand-shaped at an angle meant for the liquid to flow in a gentle ebb into the different contours of the dish. The raised bottom that tangentially meets the base of the dish was carved at an angle to allow the steady placement of the carrying hand. On the far end of the dish is a subtle curve for a chopstick to rest on it.

Measuring 285mm in length and 42mm in width, Luna is a minimalist design that emphasizes the most important aspects of the dish. From how the liquid flows to the complete visual that gently reveals itself, Luna holds the user's attention and engages with the hand and chopsticks.

During the design process, the team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducted extensive research. They used a combination of clay, foam, and wooden models to understand how liquid flows on solid surfaces at various angles. From a visual perspective, they tested different speeds of flowing and the aesthetics and dynamics of various widths, depths, and curves. The team also considered the dish's affordances and how it would complement other foods or objects that paired with sauces.

Luna's versatility shines through in its ability to work well with viscous sauces such as soy sauce and vinegar. It can also hold and separate multiple sticky sauces, pastes, and spices. The dish's design creates a sense of meditative calmness, allowing users to take a moment to pour the sauce and enjoy the beauty unfold as it gently flows to reveal different phases of the moon.

Designed by Jiani Zeng and Jillian Qua, Luna was manufactured using CNC and band saw technology. The finishing touches involved sanding and applying a salad bowl finish to enhance the natural beauty of the maple wood.

Luna has garnered recognition for its innovative design. In 2019, it was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware, and Cookware Design category. This prestigious award is bestowed upon designs that exhibit strong technical and creative skills and contribute to quality of life improvements.

With Luna, Jiani Zeng and Jillian Qua have created a sauce dish that goes beyond its functional purpose. It invites users to embrace a moment of mindfulness and appreciation for the beauty and flow of their dining experience.