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A white, geometric paper container holds a pair of chopsticks on a marble slab. It is flanked by a head of bok choy and a purple octopus tentacle against a light blue background.

Meet Tomorrow Machine, the studio doing mind-blowing things with food packaging

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Date
9 July 2014

In a world where everything is in a perpetual state of flux, from the way you brush your teeth to the fastenings on your shoes, food packaging has stayed more or less the same. Sure, the crisp packets have gotten a bit fancier and pricey organic veg comes in marginally more environmentally friendly materials now, but on the whole food has been left far behind the crowd in terms of progression.

Meet Tomorrow Machine, the Swedish product design studio giving it a encouraging shove. Their ideas are so innovative that it’s almost difficult to believe they’re real; from packaging which perishes as the food it contains does, as in This Too Shall Pass, to plant pots that eliminate the need for watering, self-cleaning plates that actually work and food packaging that opens in the oven when the food inside it is ready to eat.

Founded on a meticulous understanding of science and a desire for sustainability and matched with an equally impressive aesthetic, we thought it was time we spoke to Hanna Billqvist and Anna Glansén of the studio to find out exactly what they do.

A translucent white pyramid contains a row of small green sprouts growing from its base. The structure sits on a white marble surface against a pale mint green background.
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Tomorrow Machine: Microgarden Growing Kit

A person holds a translucent, geometric planter made of frosted white plastic. Small green plants grow inside the angular vessel, which sits on a white marble surface.
Above

Tomorrow Machine: Microgarden Growing Kit

Small green sprouts grow from a white, star-shaped paper container. A single triangular slice of the container sits on a white plate, holding a few of the plants.
Above

Tomorrow Machine: Microgarden Growing Kit

A hexagonal glass container filled with a translucent gel. Inside, thin, pale green organic filaments weave together in a tangled, web-like structure.
Above

Tomorrow Machine: Microgarden Growing Kit

A grey card with white line drawings and text sits inside an open envelope. To the right is a translucent geometric overlay and four small printed cards on a mint green background.
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Tomorrow Machine: Microgarden Growing Kit

Who are you, and how did Tomorrow Machine come into being?

Myself and Anna Glansén started Tomorrow Machine almost two years ago. We are both product designers and met during our studies in Stockholm, at Beckmans college of Design.  We soon discovered that we share the same thoughts about design, and we both believe that design can and will play an important part in shaping a sustainable world for the future.

What are the driving forces behind what you do?

Our main focus is always to create innovative design that are good for people and good for the environment, in everything that we do, but to do it in a way that is fun and exciting.

What’s your favourite project and why?

Our favourite project is This Too Shall Pass because it describes us, and what we want to achieve in every project, perfectly. That sustainable design/packaging doesn’t have to be a drab grey carton box, but can be colourful, smart and engaging.

Find out more about Tomorrow Machine’s work over on their website!

A white paper package wrapped in a green and blue splattered band. A circular label in the centre reads “EXPANDING BOWL” and “add hot water”.
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Tomorrow Machine: Expanding Bowl

A white, geometric paper container holds two wooden chopsticks. It sits on a marble slab alongside a head of bok choy and a purple octopus tentacle.
Above

Tomorrow Machine: Expanding Bowl

A white takeaway box filled with noodles and chopsticks sits on a white marble surface. It is surrounded by a head of bok choy, an octopus tentacle, sliced apple and a red paper strip.
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Tomorrow Machine: Expanding Bowl

A blue and white marbled bowl sits beside a white, pebble-shaped ceramic dish. The white dish is decorated with a series of raised, translucent droplets.
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Tomorrow Machine: Ekoportal

A blue marbled glass bowl sits on a white oval platter. The platter features a series of raised, semi-circular bumps on one side, all set against a plain blue background.
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Tomorrow Machine: Ekoportal

Three small, colourful soaps in different shapes are arranged in a row against a white background. From left to right, they are a blue cone labelled “Basmati Rice”, a green dome labelled “Extra Virgin Olive Oil”, and a pink rectangle labelled “Raspberry Smoothie”.
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Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass

A translucent, pale pink bar of soap with a bright red rectangular label in the centre. The label reads “RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE” in white capital letters.
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Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass: Raspberry Smoothie

Four red, rectangular blocks of soap are lined up against a white background. Labels below them read “Day 1”, “Day 5”, “Day 10” and “Day 15”, showing the soap wearing away over time. Each block features a red label with the words “RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE”.
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Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass: Raspberry Smoothie

A series of material experiments using agar-agar and water. Red gel samples are shown in various stages of drying, from a large rectangle to a small, shrivelled piece. Other tests show objects encapsulated in red and purple jelly, and a collection of small, translucent purple and red cubes.
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Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass: Raspberry Smoothie

A cone-shaped blue container sits against a plain white background. White text on the front reads “BASMATI RICE” above a simple mountain logo and the date “USE BEFORE 12-09-19”.
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Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass: Basmati Rice

A pile of white rice sits on a plain white surface. Blue packaging fragments curve and spiral upwards from the rice, with the words “BASMATI” visible on one piece.
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Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass: Basmati Rice

A series of beeswax material experiments on a white background. Four rectangular samples in yellow, blue and white are arranged at the top, with torn strips and melted yellow wax pools below. Annotations describe the process, including “Beeswax heated to 70° C.” and “Material Experiments / Beeswax”.
Above

Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass: Basmati Rice

A rounded, dome-shaped glass bottle of olive oil in a deep green hue. The label reads “EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL” in white capital letters.
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Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass: Olive Oil

A person holds a small, translucent green glass object over a clear glass cylinder. Both items are set against a plain, light grey background.
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Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass: Olive Oil

A series of material experiments with caramelised sugar on a white background. Samples in red, yellow and green are shown as flat rectangles, spheres and shards, with some placed in a dish of oil. Labels describe the process, including “Sugar package heated to 100° C” and “Crystallized sugar”.
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Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass: Olive Oil

An animation in which a person holds a green, curved object over a clear glass. They tilt the object to pour a golden liquid into the glass.
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Tomorrow Machine: This Too Shall Pass: Olive Oil

Two folded paper sculptures sit on a teal surface against a pink background. One is pink and white, while the other is grey and white.
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Tomorrow Machine: Self-Opening Package

A person holds a grey, textured 3D object shaped like a swirling flower or turbine. The piece is set against a split background of pink and green.
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Tomorrow Machine: Self-Opening Package

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About the Author

Maisie Skidmore

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Maisie joined It’s Nice That fresh out of university in the summer of 2013 as an intern before joining full time as an Assistant Editor. Maisie left It’s Nice That in July 2015.

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