Martin interview with Electrolux :

What was the inspiration for your concept?
In my opinion, everything I have ever seen, read and heard is my inspiration. Every experience stays somewhere inside you, and if you are lucky, it will come out at the right moment. If I look back, this particular concept was definitely inspired by the book The Naked Sun from Isaac Asimov, the R2-D2 robot from Star Wars, an egg, insects, and whatever else I see every day.

How does your concept fit into this year’s competition theme “Designs for the next 90 years”?
Ninety years is very long time. Nearly four generations will pass through, every one of them with its own dreams, desires and possibilities. One long lasting dream is to reach the stars, but before that, we will have to reach Mars to see whether or not we can live without Earth. This is the time where my concept is relevant. At that time, we won’t think of machines as dumb boxes with buttons, but more as partners that obey our commands, but still have their own minds. They will be more autonomous and think and make decisions on their own. It may sound frightening, but it isn’t scarier than the first arrival of trains to the cities.

What are the main consumer benefits of your concept?
One thing you notice on Mars is the silence and serenity. That’s quite good for one week’s vacation in the countryside, but for modern people it’s very depressing to live in such a place for several months or years. Therefore, the main benefit of Le Petit Prince is that it’s not just a machine, but more like a pet or silent friend that you can speak to when you aren’t in the mood to talk to people. On top of that, it is a good gardener that grows any plant you want or need to bare life or just for its beauty.

Describe the consumer research behind your concept.
Well, I must admit it’s difficult to do any real research behind the concept since it’s designed for Mars. However, some of my friends said it’s cute (I always thought some of them have to be from Mars) and I consider their feedback sufficient.

What kind of materials would you use to build your concept?
Metallurgy, glass production and synthetic plastics have been used for a long time and will probably continue to be used in the next hundred years, so I didn’t feel an urge to use new yet unknown materials. Nanotechnology made giant leaps in the last few years and it will improve properties of material surfaces in the future, so they will be even harder and more resistant than anything we know today. More effective (even transparent) are solar panels, etc., but this evolution will not affect the fundamentals of my concept.

Designer : Martin Miklica

Text from designer:
Most of what we perceive is through sight and sound. The senses of touch, taste, and smell are secondary. Up until now we have consumed food mainly with our eyes. Visually challenged people have proven that we have the capacity to develop other senses to a greater extent… but do we truly need to lack a sense before we’ll put the others to greater use?

SENSE! is a set of tableware objects that challenges you to use ALL your senses and no longer ‘eat with your eyes’ only. SENSE! is a set of Scent Flowers, Hot Stone Plates, Palate Cleansers and a Hot Ice Tea Ceremony. The designs make you aware of your secondary sensory capabilities. They are surprising, fun to use and magical… turning an ordinary meal into an extraordinary experience.

Hot Ice Tea Ceremony
The table and tea set are both part of a modern tea serving ceremony. Placing the tea carafe on the table will set of the crystallization of the ‘Hot Ice’ that will run through the tabletop into the double walled tea glasses. Do not trust your eyes… the ice is hot!

Hot Stone Plates
The porcelain plates with inlaid warm basalt stones heated in stock or oil allow for slower and therefore healthier dining.

Palate Cleansers
The palate cleansers create a desirable break in the dining scenario. Sit back, relax and enjoy sipping the mint vapour, which cleanses you palate but does not fill your stomach.

Scent Flowers
The scent flowers can release a specific scent to accompany a dish. Do we actually need to swallow all ingredients to have the perception of eating them, or can we eat with our noses?

Designer : Karim Rashid