Prospektüse

Prospektüse is a fictional concept used in discussions of contemporary advertising, experiential gastronomy, and speculative design. The word is a blend of Prospekt, the German term for a promotional brochure, and a suffix designed to evoke a small, edible unit. In this imagined framework, prospektüse refers to edible promotional material or tasting experiences that communicate information about a product through multisensory cues, rather than through text alone.

Origin: The term emerged in contemporary theory and art discourse as a critique of how marketing combines information delivery with sensory appeal. It does not denote a standardized practice, but rather a family of approaches that designers and writers may explore in exhibitions, performances, or fiction.

Form and manifestations: A prospektüse experience might include edible brochures or wrappers that dissolve in the mouth to release flavor and data snippets, tasting menus where each course encodes product specifications, or edible packaging that folds into informational pieces. At events, participants may sample flavors corresponding to attributes such as price ranges, features, or terms of service.

Reception and purpose: In critical contexts, prospektüse is used to examine the fusion of information design with sensory engagement, the persuasiveness of edible media, and the ethics of promotional storytelling. It is primarily discussed as a concept rather than a widespread practice.

See also: experiential marketing, edible advertising, design fiction, consumer culture studies.