D&AD New Blood wood Pencil Winner (2026) | Canva & Affinity | Solo Entry

THE problem

The average person eats a credit card's worth of microplastics every week. Nobody's doing anything about it.

the insight

We've quietly accepted the surreal reality of eating plastic as normal.

The Solution

Mikuro — a satirical omakase where the tasting menu highlights microplastic consumption. Every touchpoint leads to one demand: finalize the stalled UN Global Plastics Treaty.

watch the case study video

Named for the Japanese word for "micro."

Mikuro's tasting menu reads like a love letter to the invisible ingredient in every meal you've ever eaten.

This started as a half-baked pitch during finals week first semester. My team passed. But I couldn't stop thinking about the credit card thing.

(Have you held one lately? Apple Pay made me forget how thick they are.)

So I spent spring break building Mikuro solo.

THE AVERAGE PERSON EATS A CREDIT CARD'S WORTH OF PLASTIC EVERY WEEK.

BY 2050, PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN WILL OUTWEIGH FISH

99% OF ALL SEAFOOD IS CONTAMINATED


THE FAILED TREATY

In 2022, 175 UN nations agreed to end plastic pollution. Five rounds of talks followed. Negotiations stalled. No treaty. In 2025, the committee chair resigned.


No new deadline has been set.

If the world won't treat microplastics as a crisis — we'll treat them as our signature ingredient.  Until the absurdity becomes undeniable.

If the world won't treat microplastics as a crisis — we'll treat them as our signature ingredient.  Until the absurdity becomes undeniable.

  • SIGNATURE 特別

    Nylon Nigiri

    Ocean-harvested polyethylene. Pairs with everything because it's already in everything.

  • COCKTAILS 飲み物

    Microfiber Martini

    Garnished with a synthetic olive — you won't taste the difference, because you never have.

  • NIGIRI 握り

    Maguro

    Bluefin Tuna. 10–40 microplastic particles
    per fish. Chef's selection.

  • SAKE PAIRING 酒

    Junmai Daiginjo

    Crisp, clean, persistent.
    Like the polymers in your bloodstream.

  • NIGIRI 握り

    Hamachi

    Yellowtail. Mid-level predator.
    Particle count varies by ocean of origin.

  • WAGASHI 和菓子

    Microplastic Mochi

    Sweet red bean and polystyrene dust. A traditional preparation— whether you knew it or not.

  • SIGNATURE 特別

    Nylon Nigiri

    FINISHED WITH MIKURO FURIKAKE

    Ocean-harvested polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon-6. Pairs with everything — because it's already in everything.

  • COCKTAILS 飲み物

    Microfiber Martini

    Gin, dry vermouth. Garnished with a synthetic olive — you won't taste the difference, because you never have.

  • NIGIRI 握り

    Maguro

    Bluefin Tuna. 10–40 microplastic particles per fish.

    Chef's selection.

  • SAKE PAIRING 酒

    Junmai Daiginjo

    Crisp, clean, persistent.

    Like the polymers in your bloodstream.

  • NIGIRI 握り

    Hamachi

    Yellowtail. Mid-level predator.

    Particle count varies by ocean of origin.

  • WAGASHI 和菓子

    Microplastic Mochi

    Sweet rice flour, red bean, polystyrene dust. A traditional preparation — whether you knew it or not.

Your last course has not yet been served.

You can still demand a seat at the table.

One scan.
One ask.
One demand.


Finalize the global
plastics treaty.

One scan. One ask. One demand.

One scan. One ask. One demand.

Finalize the global plastics treaty

You didn't order this.

But you're eating it.

You didn't order this.

But you're eating it.

↑ SCROLL UP

VIEW ON D&AD

TOOLS USED

Canva & Affinity

ElevenLabs

Claude