“It far exceeded our expectations. The challenge now is keeping up with the demand and expectation for future events,” says Richard Mitchell.

Inspired by the inaugural world food design conference held in London in 2012, Richard Mitchell, Associate Professor at the Food Design Institute, led the development and delivery of International Food Design Experience at Otago Polytechnic. The event show cased cutting edge food design from around the world. More than 100 chefs, food designers and media from nine countries attended the event to launch Otago Polytechnic’s Food Design Institute. Delegates included acclaimed New York food designer and photographer, Emilie Baltz, London’s Chloe Morris and award-winning New Zealand chefs Michael Meredith, Gianpaolo Grazioli and Giulio Sturla.

The event had an audience of 2.5 million via television, magazines and online content worldwide.

Students of our Bachelor of Culinary Arts – the first design-led undergraduate culinary arts degree in the world – contributed to the event creating food experiences throughout the event, concluding with the Gala Dinner for more than 120 people.

Otago Polytechnic will be hosting another International Food Design Experience from 6-8 July 2016.