Principia Mission Food Packaging
- Heston's Dinner in Space

Project Overview:

Client: NASA / Channel 4
Project: Experience-Based Food Packaging Design
Collaboration: Heston Blumenthal, NASA, Channel 4, and selected LCC students
Duration: 4 Months
Documentary : Heston’s Dinner in Space (Channel 4)
Concept Designers: Clorama Dorvilias, Wajeeha Abbasi, Matthew Lyall
Execution Team: Lorenzo Davitti, Anabelle Alias, Saachi Mehta, Tianju Duan
Cover Photograph: David Levene / The Guardian

As part of the Principia Mission, British astronaut Major Tim Peake embarked on an incredible journey to the International Space Station (ISS). To enhance his mealtime experience in space, a team of designers, including myself, collaborated with renowned chef Heston Blumenthal to design an experience-based food packaging solution that could evoke a sense of nostalgia, warmth, and connection with Earth.

Brief:

The primary objective was to create a unique and engaging food packaging solution that would not only meet the strict food safety and weight restrictions set by NASA but also transform Tim Peake’s meal experience by providing emotional comfort and sensory engagement.

Key Goals:

• Develop packaging that is lightweight, safe, and functional in zero-gravity conditions.

• Design an interactive experience that could serve as a comforting ritual during meals.

Execution:

Design Approach & Process:

1. Research & Discovery:
   To create a packaging experience with personal significance, we conducted in-depth research into Tim Peake’s life, including his childhood memories, family moments, and food preferences. We also reviewed NASA’s space food regulations to ensure our designs met the stringent safety and usability standards required for space missions.

2. Conceptualization & Collaboration:
   Working closely with Heston Blumenthal, we explored ways to design an experience that could invoke Tim’s cherished memories while dining in space. After several ideation sessions, we crafted a design concept that centered around an interactive “memory tray” - a compact, lightweight book-style packaging solution that could hold meal containers and feature hidden visual elements. The packaging were infused with personal and nostalgic elements to evoke memories of Peake’s life on Earth.

3. Final Design - The Memory Tray:
   The final packaging took the form of an interactive tray designed from lightweight paper. This tray unfolded like a book, with pop-up elements such as flames and family photos that could trigger memories as Tim dined. The aim was to stimulate Tim’s senses and emotions, making each meal a grounding experience even while far from Earth.