Description:

Imagine you’re 35,000 feet in the air, simply trying to have a meal, feeling tired and cramped. In that pocket of personal space, a good meal goes a long way to comfort, pause and ground you in an unfamiliar environment. Quite often, it gets confusing, limiting and messy. You're not alone. After surveying, talking, and observing, it became clear that the economy-class meal tray wasn’t designed for the sky. It lacks the intuitive structure and emotional consideration needed to support tight spaces, tired hands, and unexpected movement.
70% of passengers feel lost and overwhelmed in a cluttered experience with little guidance, and 50% of the flight attendants feel overwhelmed with the aftermath of stacked trays and loose rubbish. There are rows of passengers waiting for you, eager to hand off their mess, too. It was clear there is a need for inflight serviceware that fits physical constraints and empowers better habits for passengers to feel more in control and comfortable.
At first, it was just a tray. But the more I researched, tested, and talked to stakeholders, the more the system needed reimagining. Designed as a modular, stackable set of trays and containers, the product streamlines the catering process while preserving flexibility. Airlines can customise the components and graphics to reflect their brand, while offering passengers a consistent, intuitive meal experience.
It begins with two slim trays stacked, like a bento box. Unstack both to access the full meal, or keep them together to make room for a book, laptop or just your elbows. Re-stack to hide the main and focus on the snacks if you're not feeling well. Opened wrappers are tucked into the cutlery pack. Out of sight, out of mind. Instead of shuffling around, everything has a place. For the crew, fewer trolleys, lighter weight, and intuitive stacking ease the load. For caterers, a scalable system that fits across menus and meal types.
The deeper top tray securely holds ceramic containers sealed with film. You unstack it to reveal your full meal, a small moment of discovery. You'll notice there's a shallower tray that holds snacks and cutlery, a familiar feel to a traditional tray. Subtle geometry aligns the trays as they nest together. The cutlery slides out like a drawer, with space to tuck away films and wrappers. Rubber grips under the trays keep it steady. When someone needs to pass, you can simply stack the trays and hold your meal with no spills, no stress. You’re eating, not managing chaos.
Each small, overlooked moment, a confused passenger, a cluttered tray, a rushed flight attendant, shaped its evolution. This isn’t just about food in the air; it’s about making one small part of a journey feel manageable. A meal can’t solve jet lag and give you more leg space, but it can offer a pocket of comfort in a tight and isolating space. A better tray is just the beginning of a better system.