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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.