Resilient Flavors by Kai Thompson

The 'Memory Spice Box' – each scent a shared story, a tangible reminder of resilience.

What if the digital tools we rely on for mental support suddenly disappeared?

Resilient Flavors: A speculative design project exploring the rebuilding of community mental resilience through shared culinary practices and ephemeral sensory experiences in a post-AI support collapse scenario.

Thompson_7032, Jamaica

Description

Mental health is often invisible, layered, and complex. *Resilient Flavors* imagines a future where communities rebuild emotional resilience through shared sensory experiences, drawing on the wisdom of traditional food practices in a low-tech way. The project presents a compelling case for a future where technology may become a tool for disaster management, while mental health becomes a shared responsibility that prioritizes the human touch and peer support. It invites contemplation on the enduring strength of human connection and tradition in the face of systemic collapse, prompting self-reflection on our dependence on technology.

Context

The world is fractured, recovering from cascading failures of globalized systems. Reliance on technology has given way to a resurgence of localized, community-driven initiatives. In rural Jamaica, farming communities, once dependent on AI-driven support, now draw strength from their rich cultural heritage. Shared meals and traditional practices become central to rebuilding emotional resilience. The environment is a blend of the familiar and the strange, with remnants of advanced technology juxtaposed against the vibrant, natural landscape. The history of disruption has fostered a deep-seated appreciation for self-sufficiency and mutual aid.

Provocation

This project shows the dangers of depending too much on fragile systems. Consider how quickly our current support networks could break down. Where do you seek comfort? This project asks you to care about resilience by looking at the effects of over-reliance on mental health technology.

Thompson_7032's process

Drawing from global cuisines, science fiction, and ephemeral materials, Thompson, a neutrois designer from urban Jamaica, explores future mental well-being. Their Jamaican culinary heritage, with its layered flavors and shared meals, deeply informs the project. *Resilient Flavors* reflects this layering, using ephemeral elements to express mental distress. The process involves extensive culinary research and speculative world-building, culminating in a detailed design fiction without physical prototypes, which reveals unique insights into community-driven mental health solutions, offering a critical perspective on technological dependency and a thoughtful imagining of how communal traditions can foster recovery and support.

More about Thompson_7032

Events leading to ‘Resilient Flavors’

2024: Increased investment in AI-driven mental health support for farmers globally.

2025: Early signs of over-reliance on AI systems, with traditional support networks weakening.

2026: Major cyberattack targets agricultural AI infrastructure, causing widespread disruption.

2027: Economic recession limits funding for AI maintenance and development.

2028: Resource scarcity of rare earth materials leads to the partial collapse of several AI-driven mental health platforms.

2029: Jamaican farming communities revive traditional practices to build resilience and support networks since AI support systems fail.

Imagined Future Scenarios Considered

Thompson_7032 considered the following imagined future scenarios while working on this project

AI-powered chatbots provide 24/7 mental health support to veterans, offering immediate assistance and guidance in managing anxiety and depression.

Extrapolated from Doug Collins, Trump's nominee to lead the VA, vows to work across the aisle to help vets - NPR

AI-powered virtual companions will be prescribed to mitigate loneliness and provide on-demand emotional support.

Extrapolated from WATCH: Cat gets cozy while interrupting her dad’s Zoom call - ABC News

AI-driven apps will analyze social media data to detect early signs of collective trauma and mental distress after disasters, triggering proactive mental health resource allocation.

Extrapolated from WATCH: Search for answers continues in California wildfires - ABC News

Specialized mental health programs help farmers navigate the ethical dilemmas of culling large numbers of animals, reducing moral injury.

Extrapolated from On the frontline against bird flu, egg farmers fear they're losing the battle - NPR

Hypothetical Product Ideas Considered

Thompson_7032 considered the following hypothetical product ideas while working on this project

FarmAid Crisis Hotline & Network

A 24/7 crisis hotline specifically for farmers facing economic hardship and mental health crises due to agricultural collapse. Connects them with immediate support, resources for food and shelter, and a network of peer support groups.

Community Resilience Hubs (CRHs)

Mobile, self-sufficient units designed to provide localized mental health support in disaster-stricken areas. Powered by renewable resources, CRHs offer peer support groups, basic counseling, art therapy, and distribute other essential care supplies.

Resilience Training Pods

Mobile, self-sufficient units equipped with resources and training programs focused on teaching essential survival skills, emotional regulation techniques, and cooperative problem-solving. These pods would function as crisis response centers and community hubs in the event of societal disruption.

Resilience Corps Veteran Network

A decentralized network of veterans trained in peer support and basic mental health first aid. Uses offline communication methods (radio, meetups) to provide accessible help if AI systems fail. Equipped with analog/low-tech therapeutic tools, in case of digital system failure.

Pocket Sanctuary Kits

Physical kits containing essential self-soothing tools (sensory toys, grounding exercises, emotional support guides) designed for rapid deployment post-disaster. These kits prioritize accessibility, containing resources applicable even without technology.

Empathy Network

A decentralized, community-based network connecting individuals with trained peer supporters who can provide emotional support and practical assistance during times of crisis or system failure. This network would operate independently of AI and government infrastructure.

Barter & Resilience Exchanges

Community-based systems that allow farmers to exchange skills, resources, and emotional support (counseling, labor swaps) during times of collapse. This fosters mutual aid and reduces dependency on failing external systems.

Emergency Mental Health Supply Kit

A physical kit supplied to each veteran similar to survival gear, containing self-soothing techniques, grounding exercises, contact information for support and mental health resources offline, and calming aromatherapy products so each veteran can maintain their health even during the most severe emergencies.

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