Abstract

Food insecurity remains a pressing issue in the United States that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, leaving millions without access to nutritious meals. In 2023 alone, over 50 million people turned to food assistance programs for additional support1. While traditional nutrition programs like food banks and soup kitchens provide a vital service to many communities, they often lack the capacity to address the multifaceted nature of hunger. The social stigma and alienation associated with seeking food assistance become of little concern when organizations are grappling with daunting challenges of limited resources, logistical hurdles, and the need to provide quality, nutritious meals. In order to offer a comprehensive and holistic solution to food insecurity, the immediate need for sustenance and the underlying social and logistical challenges need to be addressed simultaneously. This thesis proposes People's Plate, a user-centered and community-based food security distribution program designed to provide nutritious food and support to vulnerable populations within any given region, while ensuring accessibility, adaptability, and sustainability. In a rigorous user-centered design process, the project involved extensive research, including interviews, surveys, and observations, to gain a deep understanding of the needs and preferences of food-insecure individuals. Iterative prototyping was employed to refine the design and optimize the user experience. The thesis explores a multifaceted solution that tailors to the needs of specific vulnerable communities, and the final design prioritizes accessibility, sustainability, and welcoming community, creating a self contained space for individuals to receive nutritious meals. People's Plate aims to make an impact on our most vulnerable food insecure communities by being a source of reliable, dependable, and adaptive food solutions. People's Plate has the potential to open a pathway for the development of a multifaceted food distribution program that can address national food insecurity more effectively than current methods, poising it to be part of the blueprint for a more equitable and successful part of the national food distribution system.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Food relief; Soup kitchens--Design; User-centered system design; Sustainable design

Publication Date

8-14-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Industrial Design (MFA)

Department, Program, or Center

Design, School of

College

College of Art and Design

Advisor

Stan Rickel

Advisor/Committee Member

Lorraine Justice

Advisor/Committee Member

Melissa Dawson

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

IDDE-MFA

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