A one-academic-year programme into the powerful role of design in transforming food systems and promoting social change.
Course details
Language
English
dates
October 14th, 2025 until May 21st, 2026
time
Every Tuesday at 19h CEST/CET
format
Online via zoom
class duration
1h30 mins (1h lecture + 30 mins Q&A)
duration
24 weeks
curated by
Francesca Zampollo
created by
FONDO School
price
The Spark Seeker Pathway: 650€ per term / 1450€ per year
The Practice Explorer Pathway: 2222€ per year (limited spots)
All classes will be recorded and available for participants after the live sessions for a limited period of time.
Do you have any questions? Contact us.
About the course
This course is a deep, multidisciplinary exploration of Food Design, where creativity, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship come together to shape meaningful eating experiences.
Over the span of 1 academic year —24 weeks, participants journey through three immersive modules, each lasting 8 weeks. Each module focuses on a different dimension of Food Design: from crafting memorable experiences, to provoking thought through speculative concepts, to building sustainable, purpose-driven businesses.
1. Autumn: Designing Beyond the Plate
In this module, we explore how to design thinking about every element of the eating experience beyond just the food itself. From tableware to lighting, storytelling to setting, we learn how to create cohesive experiences that align with the specific message or intention of the designer. The goal is to design not just for taste, but for meaning, ensuring that every detail supports the overall message, making it easy for people to understand and emotionally connect. Since food is ephemeral, what truly lasts are the memories we create. Ultimately, we don’t just design food, we design for memories.
2. Winter: Critical and Speculative Food Design
This module delves into the critical and speculative sub-discipline of Food Design, where the aim is not just to serve food but to provoke thought. We explore how to use Food Design as a medium to spark reflection, question norms, and engage with pressing issues in the food system. Through imaginative and thought-provoking projects, we aim to open minds, inspire change, and bring awareness to complex topics. Here, design becomes a tool for storytelling, activism, and impact.
3. Spring: From Ideas to Business
In the final module, we shift our focus to turning creative ideas into viable, sustainable businesses. We learn how to develop business models that are not only financially sound but also environmentally and socially responsible. Key topics include aligning brand strategy with values, meeting sustainability standards, and building a coherent brand identity. By the end, students will be equipped to launch Food Design ventures that make a difference—ethically, creatively, and effectively.
The course is offered in two distinct pathways, allowing participants to choose the level of depth and engagement that best suits their goals and availability.
Pathways
The Practice Explorer Pathway
This pathway is designed for those who want a more immersive, hands-on experience—particularly participants aiming to develop a personal project through the course. It includes everything offered in the Spark Seeker Pathway, plus additional opportunities for practice, application, and personalized feedback. Participants will take part in two additional 2-hour, practice-based workshops per module, led by Francesca Zampollo. In these sessions, they will actively explore and apply Food Design Thinking methods that can be reused in the future and adapted in their own practice. Additionally, The Practice Explorer Pathway includes personalized support through three 30-minute one-on-one tutorial with Francesca (one per module), as well as three 30-minutes one-on-one session with different guest tutors (scheduled once over the entire course). These tutorials provide a valuable opportunity for participants to receive tailored feedback, ask specific questions, and refine their projects with expert guidance.
Includes everything in The Seeker Pathway plus:
- Generative workshops, where frameworks or tools are applied to help steer or progress work.
- Exploration and discussion of systems change concepts, including reflection and discussion in pairs, small groups, and with the full cohort.
- Framework learning and application time, allowing participants to try out design methods around group challenges, ask questions to the facilitator and cohort, and delve into practical application.
- Cohort building time, fostering small group discussions and reflections.
- One-on-one tutorials with Francesca Zampollo and other practitioners for direct feedback and confrontation.
The Spark Seeker Pathway
This pathway offers a foundational experience, perfect for those looking to gain inspiration and insight into Food Design without a heavy time commitment. It includes one 90-minute lesson per week over the 8 weeks of each module. Each set of 8 lessons includes two sessions led by Francesca Zampollo, who introduces key concepts and shares frameworks for approaching the module's theme. The remaining six sessions feature guest speakers—renowned professionals from the field—who present their projects and experiences. These talks are designed to provide a rich understanding of the topic and spark creative thinking through real-world examples.
Sessions combine guest lectures from well-known designers, artists, and change-makers with interactive workshops.
- Guest Lectures: Include presentations followed by a 30–40 min Q&A session, where participants can interact with the guest speakers.
- Engagement through Discord: you will have access to a Discord group where you can chat directly with your peers, recordings will be uploaded and materials will be made available.
Pathways
The Practice Explorer
The Spark Seeker
This pathway is designed for those who want a more immersive, hands-on experience—particularly participants aiming to develop a personal project through the course. It includes everything offered in the Spark Seeker Pathway, plus additional opportunities for practice, application, and personalized feedback. Participants will take part in two additional 2-hour, practice-based workshops per module, led by Francesca Zampollo. In these sessions, they will actively explore and apply Food Design Thinking methods that can be reused in the future and adapted in their own practice. Additionally, The Practice Explorer Pathway includes personalized support through three 30-minute one-on-one tutorial with Francesca (one per module), as well as three 30-minutes one-on-one session with different guest tutors (scheduled once over the entire course). These tutorials provide a valuable opportunity for participants to receive tailored feedback, ask specific questions, and refine their projects with expert guidance.
Includes everything in The Seeker Pathway plus:
- Generative workshops, where frameworks or tools are applied to help steer or progress work.
- Exploration and discussion of systems change concepts, including reflection and discussion in pairs, small groups, and with the full cohort.
- Framework learning and application time, allowing participants to try out design methods around group challenges, ask questions to the facilitator and cohort, and delve into practical application.
- Cohort building time, fostering small group discussions and reflections.
- One-on-one tutorials with Francesca Zampollo and other practitioners for direct feedback and confrontation.
This pathway offers a foundational experience, perfect for those looking to gain inspiration and insight into Food Design without a heavy time commitment. It includes one 90-minute lesson per week over the 8 weeks of each module. Each set of 8 lessons includes two sessions led by Francesca Zampollo, who introduces key concepts and shares frameworks for approaching the module's theme. The remaining six sessions feature guest speakers—renowned professionals from the field—who present their projects and experiences. These talks are designed to provide a rich understanding of the topic and spark creative thinking through real-world examples.
Sessions combine guest lectures from well-known designers, artists, and change-makers with interactive workshops.
- Guest Lectures: Include presentations followed by a 30–40 min Q&A session, where participants can interact with the guest speakers.
- Engagement through Discord: you will have access to a Discord group where you can chat directly with your peers, recordings will be uploaded and materials will be made available.
Guest Speakers
Course Structure
This online food design course consists of 24 seminars delivered via Zoom every Tuesday at 7 PM CEST/CET. Each seminar is designed to provide in-depth knowledge and interactive learning opportunities in the field of food design, and it features a 1-hour presentation followed by a 30-minute Q&A session. The detailed course structure is as follows:
Date
Speaker
14-oct-25 TO 02-DEC-25
TERM 1 - DESIGNING BEYOND THE PLATE
27-JAN-26 TO 12-MAR-26
TERM 2 - CRITICAL / SPECULATIVE FOOD DESIGN
07-APR-26 TO 21-MAY-26
TERM 3 - FROM IDEAS TO BUSINESS
Tutors
What will I learn?
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The Spark Seeker Pathway
- Understanding and applying key principles of Food Design to create cohesive, multisensory eating experiences.
- Design elements beyond food—such as setting, storytelling, and objects—to enhance emotional impact and create lasting memories.
- Communicating clear and intentional messages through designed eating experiences.
- Identifying and distinguishing the characteristics of Critical and Speculative Food Design.
- Using Food Design as a tool to raise awareness, challenge assumptions, and explore social, environmental, and ethical issues.
- Translating creative ideas into actionable steps for building a sustainable, responsible business.
- Creating a brand strategy that aligns with personal values and sustainability principles.
- Gaining inspiration and insight from expert-led sessions and real-world Food Design case studies.
The Practice Explorer Pathway
everything in The Seeker Pathway plus:
- Developing imaginative and thought-provoking food concepts that spark reflection and conversation.
- Using a variety of Food Design Thinking methods in the development of projects and creative processes.
- Receiving and integrating personalized feedback to refine individual projects.
- Developing a personal or professional project grounded in the principles of Food Design, supported by hands-on experience and expert guidance.
TOPICS COVERED
- Designing Eating Experiences Beyond Food
- Cohesion in Food Experience Design
- Food as a Medium for Memory and Emotion
- Designing with Message and Intention
- Critical Food Design
- Speculative Food Design
- Design for Awareness, Reflection, and impact in the Food System
- Food Futures and Imaginative Concept Development
- Sustainable Food Business Development
- Brand Strategy in Food Design
- Environmental and Social Responsibility in Business
- Food Design Thinking Methods
- Creative Project Development in Food Design
FAQ
Who should take this course?
This course is ideal for designers, aspiring designers, activists, food system enthusiasts, and anyone interested in designing for disruption and leveraging creative skills to address food system issues. No prior design experience is required—just a passion for positive change and an interest in how creativity can drive social good.
This course is designed for curious, creative minds who are passionate about food and its potential as a medium for design, storytelling, and change. It’s ideal for:
Designers, artists, chefs, and creatives looking to explore the intersection of food and design
Entrepreneurs and aspiring founders interested in launching a sustainable food-related venture
Professionals in the food industry seeking to expand their thinking and innovate beyond traditional approaches
Anyone with a personal or professional project related to food who wants to explore new perspectives, gain practical tools, and receive expert feedback
Whether you're just beginning your journey or looking to push your existing practice further, this course offers both inspiration and practical guidance tailored to different levels of engagement.
About online sessions
To maximise your experience, please arrange your schedule to be fully present for all sessions. This supports not only your learning but also that of your fellow participants. If you are unable to attend part or all of a session, please notify the team as soon as possible so adjustments can be made.
While sessions will be recorded and available for review, active participation in discussions and exercises is highly encouraged to gain the most from the course.
About time commitment
The Practice Explorer Pathway
This pathway is designed for those who want to dive deeper through hands-on practice and personalised feedback. In addition to the weekly Live lessons, you’ll participate in six practical workshops(2 hours each) and benefit from six one-on-one tutorials over the course. While there is still no mandatory homework, you’ll be encouraged to spend time between sessions reflecting on workshop activities and developing your personal project. Your main commitment is to show up fully engaged, ready to experiment, and open to feedback during all scheduled sessions.
The Spark Seeker Pathway
This pathway is designed so all learning occurs during sessions, with no homework required. Francesca will provide optional further readings for those interested, but your primary responsibility is to be fully present and engaged during scheduled session times.
What is the cancellation policy?
We aim to provide you with a transparent learning experience. Please review our cancellation policy carefully.
Non-Refundable Fee
All course fees are non-refundable. Once payment is made, it cannot be refunded under any circumstances.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel your enrolment, please notify us as soon as possible. Despite any unforeseen circumstances, we cannot offer refunds or credits for future courses.
Course Access
After registration and payment, you will have immediate access to the course materials. This access remains available for the duration of the course period, even if you choose to cancel your participation.
Course Modifications
We reserve the right to modify the course content, schedule, or instructors if necessary. Any significant changes will be communicated in advance.
Course Cancellation
If we need to cancel the course, you will be offered a full refund of the course fee or the option to transfer your enrolment to a future course date.
Will I get a certificate?
We recognise and value the time, effort, and commitment that participants invest in this course, as well as that of our guest speakers. We offer two types of certificates depending on the chosen pathway and level of engagement.
For the Spark Seeker Pathway
Participants on this pathway are eligible to receive a Certificate of Participation, provided they attend at least 80% of the (ONLIVE) lessons. This means attending a minimum of 7 out of the 9 live sessions per module (including both Francesca Zampollo and guest speaker sessions). The certificate acknowledges active engagement and learning throughout the course.
For the Practice Explorer Pathway
Participants on this more in-depth pathway are eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion, which reflects both participation and practical application. To qualify, participants must:
- attend at least 80% of the (ONLIVE) workshops (i.e., 5 out of 6 workshops across the three modules)
- attend at least 80% of the (ONLIVE) lessons (i.e. 19 out of 24 live sessions across the three modules)
- complete a personal project and present it to the course final session.
This certificate is intended to recognise the hands-on work, use of Food Design Thinking methods, and individual project development completed during the course.
We can issue certificates on demand, however note that our organisation is not state-regulated and therefore we cannot offer official credits.