These 'Neuroscientific Plates' are designed to enhance how you taste things - Yanko Design

"HAK Studio's UMA Tableware Collection represents a poetic union of design, neuroscience, and sensory wellness. Developed through in-depth research in gastrophysics, the study of how sensory stimuli shape our perception of flavor, the collection transforms everyday dining into a multisensory experience. Each piece in the series explores how color, texture, and form can subtly manipulate taste expectations and amplify the enjoyment of food, particularly for those whose sense of taste has diminished."

"Drawing inspiration from the pioneering work of Professor Charles Spence at the University of Oxford, UMA stems from the understanding that the brain forms flavor expectations before a meal is even tasted. Visual and tactile cues such as surface gloss, hue, or material finish can psychologically intensify sweetness, saltiness, or richness. This opens a new path toward healthier eating, where design itself can reduce the reliance on excessive sugar or salt while maintaining sensory satisfaction."

"The collection also serves as a powerful reminder of how deeply intertwined our senses truly are. It is fascinating to see how something as intangible as texture can profoundly affect taste, demonstrating that as designers, we must learn to holistically engage all five senses of the human mind and body to craft truly wholesome, resonant experiences. When sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste align, the result transcends functionality; it becomes emotional, memorable, and restorative."

UMA Tableware applies gastrophysics research to transform everyday dining into a deliberate multisensory experience. Pieces employ color, surface gloss, hue, texture, and material finish to shape pre-meal flavor expectations and amplify perceived sweetness, saltiness, or richness. The designs aim to enhance enjoyment for people with reduced taste sensitivity and to enable healthier eating by reducing reliance on excess sugar or salt while preserving sensory satisfaction. Neuroscientific principles associated with Charles Spence’s work guide the approach, and designs are adapted to cultural associations and local craftsmanship to evoke comfort, familiarity, and emotionally resonant experiences.

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