Communication theory: Equilibria
Communication theory in the design field
Walter Fisher’s Narrative Paradigm proposes that human communication is fundamentally based on storytelling rather than purely logical or informational exchange. According to this theory, people understand the world through narratives that possess coherence (internal consistency) and fidelity (alignment with lived experience and values). Within the design field, this paradigm reframes design as a narrative practice in which objects, visuals, and systems communicate meaning by telling stories that users intuitively recognize and evaluate.
Design artifacts function as narrative forms: materials, shapes, colors, and interactions operate as narrative elements that suggest purpose, values, and intention. Rather than persuading through argument or instruction, design persuades through narrative logic — it invites users to «read» the object and assess whether its story feels believable and relevant to their own experiences. A coherent design presents a clear and consistent narrative across its formal and functional elements, while narrative fidelity is achieved when the design aligns with cultural expectations, ethical values, and everyday practices.
From this perspective, successful design does not merely solve problems but constructs meaningful narratives that guide behavior and interpretation. Interfaces tell stories about ease and trust, objects communicate stories of care or efficiency, and visual identities convey narratives of belonging and credibility. Users engage with these narratives not passively but through interpretation, comparison, and personal judgment, continuously deciding whether a design’s story «makes sense» and resonates with their values.
Applying the Narrative Paradigm to design emphasizes the importance of intentional storytelling, where meaning emerges through the relationship between designer intention and user interpretation. Design becomes a communicative act grounded in human experience, where effectiveness is measured not only by functionality but by the strength and credibility of the narrative it communicates.
Presentation for a General Audience
Equilibria is a smart plate designed to turn everyday eating into a moment of awareness and balance. Instead of calorie charts or strict dietary rules it communicates through subtle colour, allowing balance to be felt, not calculated.
Rather than redesigning eating habits through discipline or control, Equilibria proposes a different approach. By redesigning how nutritional information is communicated, the plate becomes a supportive presence — helping users notice patterns and develop intuition over time. Equilibria is not about perfect eating. It is about learning to notice habits and proportions — without stress or guilt.
Equilibria is a smart plate that gently helps people build a healthier relationship with food. It is divided into intuitive sections for proteins, vegetables, carbohydrates, and sweets, making balance visible at the moment of eating — not afterwards. Most nutrition tools rely on numbers: calories, grams, percentages. Equilibria removes calculations from the table and replaces them with visual guidance that anyone can understand at a glance.
Each section of the plate responds to the amount of food placed on it:
— Too much → soft warm yellow
— Too little → calm blue
— Balanced → gentle green
— Idle / neutral → soft grey
The experience begins before the first meal. Equilibria comes in minimal, tactile packaging designed to feel intentional and calm. Opening the box is slow and quiet — reinforcing care rather than control.
For those who want deeper insight, Equilibria can connect to a companion app. The app offers gentle reflections and long-term patterns — never mandatory, never overwhelming. The primary communication always happens through the plate itself.
Presentation for a Professional Audience
The overall style is very soft and subtle due to «no pressure» concept while remaining quite futuristic and technological with minimalistic design, cool colour palette and geometrisation.
The name Equilibria itself has two layered meaning. The upper level reflects the idea of balancing your diet, much like an acrobat maintains perfect balance. Deeper layer implies that achieving proper nutrition is as challenging as equilibristics. This allows the user to feel supported by the smart plate — using a helpful tool for something difficult — and to experience satisfaction and pride when reaching a complex goal.
Colour in Equilibria is not decorative. The colors are intentionally bright but not vivid — designed to guide without alarming. Yet, still intuitive to users. Green — #E0FBBA is an entrenched symbol of being right. Yellow — #FDFEB8 shows that something is wrong, but not as scary and demanding as red or orange. Grey — #EDEDED pure neutral. Light blue — #C5E3FF symbolizes serenity. Yet it also has a little bit of weakness asossiations, so it is ideal to represent the lack of someting
Gradients soften transitions even more, creating a sense of calm and emotional safety.
Typography is a simple thin grotesque with round shapes, creating a feeling of softness, purity and intelligibility. In accidental titles the letter «o» has an embedded symbol of logo that adds a unique touch to the text. Enlarged word spacing and line spacing adds more space and air, emphasizing the absence of pressure.
Patterns are based on simple circles — the shape of the plate. Using brand colours, gradients and subtle present numbers connecting design with essence of product. It creates the right combination of technology and care.
General style implies no illustrations or pictures, that’s why the brand uses only vectorized softened primitive shapes and patterns.
For social media communication the same approach is used. Clear minimalistic images, based on round forms and brand colours. The main focus is on the text — big encouraging slogans with neutral images. The slogans are short, clear and catchy using the principle of direct targeting.
Eventually, key visuals consist of:
— Pastel colours and gradients referring to no pressure approach and softness — Simple grotesque typography visualizing openness of brand and it’s honesty — Simple geometric round forms — Modular pattern system — Combination of emotional (care) and rational (technology) levels of communication.
Comunication theory as basis for presentation
Working on Equilibria shifted our focus from designing a «useful object» to constructing a meaning-making system. Design decisions were evaluated through interpretation, context, and perception rather than efficiency alone. The project combined narrative theory and communication frameworks to create a coherent, legible experience.
Narrative Paradigm (Walter Fisher)
Design is approached as storytelling: the designer is the narrator, the object is the story, and the user is the interpreter. The narrative communicates values such as balance, attentiveness, and perceptual understanding rather than prescriptive instruction. Coherence and fidelity ensure that the story is internally consistent and resonates with users’ experiences and expectations.
Relationship Management Theory
This defined our strategic goal: creating a relational experience rather than a transactional interaction. Every design decision aims to foster trust, attentiveness, and mutual engagement, positioning Equilibria as a supportive companion in daily routines, not just a functional object.
Combination of Interpretive and Objective Approaches
Balancing interpretive and objective strategies allowed us to merge meaningful depth with practical functionality. The interpretive approach invites users to explore and project personal meanings onto the plate, such as mindfulness, balance, or emotional satisfaction. The objective approach guided the design of physical form, materiality, and proportions. Together, these approaches ensure that Equilibria functions both as a perceptually rich, meaningful experience and a practical, functional object.
Channel and Context
Design communication adapts seamlessly across different contexts without diluting its narrative: — Physical interaction emphasizes texture, balance, and form. — Digital documentation or presentation highlights composition and proportions. — Photography or media representation communicates the experience’s narrative through visual clarity.
These strategies work together to create a system in which form, materiality, and interaction communicate meaningful experiences. The communication theory course reframed Equilibria not as a tool for control, but as a human-centered system for understanding balance.
Material from the online-course «Comunication Theory»
AI generated
Self-made
