Helping Anorexia’s Treatment through Design: an interview with Guylaine Sauvaget-Lasserre, clinician psychologist
Not only is Guylaine Sauvaget Lasserre an Assistant Professor at the Psychology department of the University of Toulouse (south-western France), she has also dedicated herself to infant prevention and socialization for twenty years in a state-sponsored French institution. In 2009-2010 she thoroughly advised Master’s student in New Eating Habits Aurore Donnat in conducting her final degree project. Spurred by a strong interest in teenage anorexia Aurore elaborated Le réseau d’Arthur (Arthur’s Network) – an alternative solution to standard single-tray meals through eco-designed packaging. Her aim is to turn mealtimes into good times even for anorexic people.
Guylaine Sauvaget Lasserre was interviewed by Jean-Patrick Péché, Designer, Consultant and Head of the New Eating Habits research unit; their conversation hints at several key issues about design and its role in the food industry.
Guylaine Sauvaget Lasserre
Design as interdisciplinary facilitator
Jean-Patrick Péché: You followed Aurore Donnat’s project from the early stages of its development when she was establishing the preliminary inquiry. Do you find it out of place for a young designer to tackle something as serious an issue as the antagonistic relationship between teenagers and food?
Guylaine Sauvaget-Lasserre: I work closely with the notion of interdisciplinarity. For me, it is paramount that practices and know-how specific to each individual be recognized and interactions and their complementarities be encouraged so as to foster open-mindedness. Should a designer be eager to put his/her skills to use in supporting those struggling with anorexia or bulimia, why should we inhibit that initiative? It goes without saying that the professional must align himself/herself with the objectives and responsibilities inherent to the role of the caregivers involved.
I did not know anything about design, but after observing Aurore’s work, it became apparent that product design stems from a crossbreeding of disciplines. Aurore tapped into the fields of psychology, sociology and, of course, dietetics given her interest in eating habits. The way I see it, design embraces openness and versatility.
Jean-Patrick Péché: As a designer, I love to hear that. In my opinion, design facilitates cross-disciplining.
Guylaine Sauvaget-Lasserre: It can, indeed, facilitate things if it manages to integrate the project as well as combine the interdisciplinary initiatives proposed by players representing a vast palette of fields.
"Arthur's network" : applied arts workshop
Jean-Patrick Péché: On which type of action should we rely to justify the role played by industrial design within the parameters of a project already transversal in nature?
Guylaine Sauvaget-Lasserre: Without overgeneralizing, perhaps we ought to merge with the aims relating to industrial design, though unfamiliar with its detail, which seem to target the best possible rendering of the product in question.
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