Fat Duck: Sweet Trolley

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Saving the best ’til last: an enticing surprise in the form of a mechanical sweet shop.

Challenge

Heston Blumenthal is famous for creating multi-sensory dining experiences. We were tasked with bringing one of Heston’s extraordinary visions to life: creating a centrepiece which would add to the culinary experience and allow the magic of the final course to unfold at Heston’s The Fat Duck restaurant.

Insights

In close collaboration with Heston and his confectionery chefs, we set about designing and making a detailed, scale model of a Victorian sweet shop. It is packed with hidden innovative digital technology which stuns and surprises diners by seemingly coming to life and serving them each a personalised petit four. To ensure the sweet shop was the finest quality, we collaborated with the cabinetmaker Mark Heeler, who created new tools in order to fully realise the bespoke design.

Outcome

The scaled model of a Victorian sweet shop, set atop a wooden trolley, is kitted out with metal cogs and gears. The shop’s exterior features traditional signage and windows and houses rows of miniature sweet jars. Smoke billows from the tiny chimney, while lights flicker in the windows upstairs.


Turning a brass handle on the side of the trolley causes gears to spin and the shop to open up, revealing 48 drawers and two detailed attic scenes: a sweet shop laboratory filled with scientific apparatus and a model of Blumenthal’s childhood bedroom, complete with posters, a train set and a model plane hanging from the ceiling.


Diners are asked to insert a coin, given to them in an earlier course, which causes drawers to open and close in a seemingly randomised sequence. Finally, a single drawer dispenses – as if by magic – a particular dessert sweet personalised for each guest.

Our Approach

Concept and Design

Inspired by the potential of generative AI and the global intrigue surrounding this technology, we created an immersive experience that blended hardware and software. The experience was designed to help visitors envision their future careers through a curated, interactive journey.

 

Immersive Experience

Visitors engaged with a bespoke hardware interface, participating in a diagnostic test that drew inspiration from learning type assessments. This quiz asked a series of interpersonal questions about their ambitions, learning characteristics, and aptitudes. Leveraging these insights, the AI generated an archetype using smart prompts. This process culminated in the creation of unique visual avatars that were then displayed large digital animated video walls.

 

Spatial Design

The RiseUp immersive experience was meticulously integrated within the broader context of the Knowledge 24 event, spanning across six interconnected areas. Our design ensured that the RiseUp zone complemented neighbouring spaces, maintaining a cohesive narrative throughout the exhibition. The central 'haven' space, surrounded by digital video walls displaying the avatars, provided a bright, optimistic, and inviting atmosphere amidst the bustling expo floor.

 

Visual and Interactive Elements

The interactive experience was enhanced by a bespoke controller with tactile controls, making AI more accessible and empowering users to take control of their future career. The overarching goal was to demystify AI, rendering it tangible and approachable. By providing hands-on experiences, we sought to educate and inspire curiosity about AI’s applications, helping visitors comprehend its potential impact on their future path in the work environment.

 

Totemic Takeaway

Each visitor received a printed version of their avatar. This personalised memento served as a reminder of their engagement with the RiseUp experience and their unique learning archetype. The takeaway was not only a keep sake but also a conversation starter, encouraging further discussion and interest in the RiseUp program long after the event.

 

Saving the best ’til last: an enticing surprise in the form of a mechanical sweet shop.

Impact

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