In this workshop, participants will design an object for a specific food scene from a movie, working from a script passage rather than the finished scene. Approaching the project as a production designer would, each person will interpret the text and imagine the spatial and material logic of the setting. Participants will choose a different component to focus on, such as a vessel, textile, piece of furniture, or another element that contributes to the scene's overall coherence. By the end of the workshop, participants will begin prototyping their chosen element. They will then have roughly a month to continue developing their product and contribute to the assembly of the full set by January 12. The completed set will be presented at The Set- Design for Screen event on 22–24 January 2026, alongside the screening of the film.
Topics Covered:
- Design Integration in Film. How designed objects shape spatial meaning within a scene and support narrative interpretation.
- Cultural Heritage. Engaging with Qatari material culture, food traditions, and museum sources to inform the imagined set.
- Material and Context. Working with materials connected to Qatar's land and craft lineages, and interpreting how they might belong in a cinematic environment.
The Program Structure:
Day 1 – Thursday, December 11
Introspection and Brief: The workshop begins with a Design Thinking exercise to reflect on personal inspirations, followed by reading the script and analysing the scene's recipe in its Qatari cultural context. By the end, each participant selects the specific element of the scene they will focus on designing.
Day 2 – Friday, December 12
Contextualisation and Investigation: Day two opens with a discussion on Food Design and its sub-disciplines, situating the project within the broader field, followed by research into the cultural and material context of each participant's chosen element. The group also explores how individual objects must interact, fostering dialogue on collaboration and creating a cohesive scene.
Day 3 – Saturday, December 13
Ideation and Reflection: On day three, participants focus on aligning message and language, developing how their chosen element communicates through form, material, and narrative, before moving into ideation and sketching to begin translating concepts into tangible designs.
Day 4 - Sunday, December 14
Alignment and Collaboration: On day four, ideation deepens as participants explore the details of their projects, using exercises to ensure design choices align with earlier goals and to share ideas and exchange feedback, strengthening collaboration and creating a cohesive scene.
Day 5 - Monday, December 15
Prototyping and Planning: On the final day, participants begin prototyping their chosen elements while planning next steps toward the final exhibition objects, culminating in a presentation of concepts and early prototypes to gather feedback and reflect on the cohesive set.