Aimee DeCruyenaere

CommonBowl

"Using Food and Personal Informatics to Foster Intercultural Connections in the Office Workplace: Although Canada prides itself in its strength in multiculturalism, there still exists undeniable cultural divides. Optimistically, studies have proven that the sharing of food is a powerful medium for building empathy and fostering connection between disparate groups. The CommonBowl focuses on revamping the humble office candy bowl as a vehicle for intercultural exchange. The sharing of snacks offers a simple, playful, and approachable way to share one’s own culture, learn about others, and converse over novel experiences. The intention is that the intercultural connections reach beyond the office and the snacks act as catalysts for further cultural curiosity and conversation."