Por-Dee
Background
Portion control is one of the way to keep patients with type-2 diabetes maintain blood sugar in a normal level. The habits of eating too much carbohydrate will cause high blood sugar levels.
Project Description
Por-Dee (พà¸à¸”ี), which means "Just right" in Thai, is a dinnerware set that helps type-2 diabetes patients control their blood sugar by eating a well-balanced diet. Using a graphic design on dining plates with an optical illusion "the Delboeuf illusion" leads patients to eat in healthy portions, and the proportion of the meal feels just right to the eye. Being tableware at home encourages the habit of eating appropriate portions for starters and creates a positive attitude towards portion management.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Project Advisor /
Prof. Praima Israsena
​
Year /
2018
Delboeuf illusion:
The circle that is surrounded by the smaller ring will appear bigger than the circle surrounded by the farther ring.
​Delboeuf illusion
​Using optical illusion to make the portion of food looks more appealing to the eyes
There are 3 dishes in a set.​​
1. The Portion plate: For meal
The Portion plate is for managing portions in each meal. It is divided into 3 areas: vegetable, starch, and protein, in a ratio of 2:1:1, respectively.
​
2. The Minus plate: For favourites
The Minus plate is for food that should be eaten less. The graphic on the plate makes food portion look bigger. Enjoy your favorites with awareness.
3. The Plus plate: For healthy choices
The Plus plate makes food portion look smaller, encouraging people to eat healthy food e.g. salad
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Red Dot Award: Product Design 2019: Honourable Mention​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Statement by the jury:
Por-Dee is a successful implementation of an astounding graphic concept which, in a creative and appealing way, motivates people to keep a healthy diet.
Design Process​​
Hypothesis
​In Asian countries, people eat rice as their biggest portion, which contradicts the portion for diabetes patients. Asian households dining together as a family is common. Family having group meals with shared main dishes with a personal plate of rice can be seen in every home in Thailand. Thus, dining plates are designed to provide spaces for rice and main dishes, which may cause users to overfill and overeat food. Consequently, portion management is a challenge for type-2 diabetes patients in Thailand.
Eating context in Thailand
​Insights and Findings​
During the research process, I conducted in-depth interviews with 6 diabetes patients, 2 caregivers, and 1 doctor to gain insights and learn about user habits and perceptions of portion management. The findings are the following:
People feel stress from the overwhelming portion control guidelines provided by the hospital. It is complicated and challenging to make it practical.
"I don't really listen to what the dietitian said. I don't think portion control works for me. I rely on just medication."​
"For me, restricting meal portions is too challenging and so stressful. I tried but always failed."​
"I remember all the things I should or shouldn't eat, but at the end of the day, I still can't stop eating them."​​​
Portion Guidelines from hospital
​​Needs: Cultivating Habit at Ease
​
People feel ashamed while eating 'the unhealthy food' and are afraid of getting caught by their relatives or doctors.
"Because I like eating sugary fruits, I always 'prepare' my​
blood sugar before visiting the doctor. I have to eat
healthily to have my blood sugar level in a healthy range
(after eating sugary food), so my doctor would not be
disappointed in me."
​
"I'm scared of getting caught eating sweet fruits like durian
so much that I need to secretly eat it in the car. I don't want
my sister to find out."
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​Needs: Mindful Eating with Pride
2:1:1 Portion control is a great starting point for portion control beginners.
After participating in a portion control class for diabetes
patients at Theptharin Hospital, a renowned healthcare
institution specialising in treating diabetes in Thailand.
I have found that the fundamentals for portion control
are a 2:1:1 ratio of vegetable, starch, and protein, respectively.
​
Needs: ​Pragmatic Portion Control Approach
User Mapping
​From in-depth interviews with six diabetes patients, I discovered that patients tend not to follow the portion control guidelines (Defiant enjoyer) and are motivated by their family and relatives watching over them (Externally motivated).
​​​​Design Challenge​
​
What I found:
​To keep blood sugar at a healthy level, a tool for portion management is needed. Cultivating healthy habits with ease and mindful eating with pride can provide a quick and easy start for portion management beginners.​​​​
"How might we create a portion management tool for food enjoyer diabetes patients to proudly eat with mindfulness and cultivate healthy eating habits with ease?"​​​
Ideation and Testing
​
Research shows that the size of the plate positively correlates with the amount consumed. It shows how serving food on a larger white plate can delay satiety when compared to smaller and colored plates. The 'Delboeuf Illusion' was mentioned, and I went further to research it.​​​
Prototyping and testing the delboeuf illusion concept in various applications
