In cooperation with the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, this project led students to examine everyday packaging through the lenses of sustainability, marketing, and design. By combining hands-on field research at waste facilities with DALL-E 2 image generation, the students transformed mundane trash into a subject of critical reflection and artistic analysis.

Multi-Perspective Analysis: Students investigated current product packaging regarding sustainability, marketing, design, protection, and information content.

Structured Field Research: The process included photographic documentation, research walks to analyze real-world marketing, and a visit to the Hagenholz waste incineration plant in Zurich to witness the end of the packaging life cycle.

AI Imagery (DALL-E 2): To explore the sensory and emotional side of design, students collected associations which were then translated by DALL-E 2 into images that visually mirror the "mood" of the packaging.

The Pattern Fans (Musterfächer): The results were synthesized into physical "Pattern Fans" where products (like Coca-Cola or McDonald's fries) were rated using a 5-point symbol system for criteria such as Design, Sustainability, and Marketing.

DesignScouts Exhibition: The project culminated in a public presentation of the findings and the created fans at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich.