Course Details
Language: English
Starts on: October 15, 2025
Ends on: May 27, 2026
Duration: 24 weeks
When: Every Week at 19:00 CEST/CET
Format: Online via zoom
Class duration: 1h30 mins (1h lecture + 30 mins Q&A) or 2h for workshops
Curated and taught 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
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
The Spark Seeker 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 one 30-minutes one-on-one session with a guest speaker (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.
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.
Guest Speakers
