YEAR: 2020–ongoing
CATEGORY: Design Research, Visual Communication
ROLE: Chronicler, Photographer, Collector
CLIENT / TYPE: Free Project
COLLABORATORS: Independent work
TOOLS / MEDIUM: Found objects, photography, scanning, transcription, data analysis
OUTPUT: Collection, archive, visual analysis of found shopping lists

Brot, Wurst und Käse

These lost or discarded pieces of paper—as inconspicuous as they may seem—can tell us a lot about the needs, preferences, and habits of their owners.

Challenge
Handwritten shopping lists are usually treated as disposable notes. Once lost or discarded, they become small traces of everyday life, consumption and routine.

Approach
Brot, Wurst & Käse collects found shopping lists and looks at them as informal documents of personal habits. The project observes what people buy, how they write, what they forget, cross out or add later.

Process
The lists are collected, photographed or scanned, transcribed and compared. Selected items are analysed to see which products appear together and what patterns emerge across the archive.

Result
The result is an ongoing collection of found shopping lists, supported by visual and data-based analysis. Network visualisations show recurring combinations and clusters of products.

Reflection
The project is a simple archive of everyday traces. Its interest lies in how much ordinary, discarded paper can reveal about routines, preferences and small patterns of consumption.

Shopping List Transcripts

Jam, Bread, Butter
Letchos, Sausages, Pickled cucumbers, Tomato paste, Potatoes, Sweet potatoes, Basil, Tomatoes, Arugula, Dried tomatoes, Vegan schnitzel, Noodles, Cheese, Sour cream, Cream

Bread, Buns, Chocolate

Chips, Alcohol

Soap, Coffee, Painkillers, Lotion

Bread, Sausages, Cheese, Butter, Vinegar, Bananas, Yogurt, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Lettuce, Toilet cleaner, Window cleaner, Cooking oil

Bell pepper, Tomatoes, Carrots, Cold cuts

Vinegar, Olive oil, Sunflower oil, Whiskey, Balsamic vinegar, White wine, Alcohol, Worcestershire sauce, Toasted bread, Sausages

Dish soap, Oven cleaner, Noodles, Ginger, Soap, Juice, Chickpeas, Sweet potatoes, Oat milk, Milk, Butter, Cookies, Tomato sauce, Olive oil, Tomatoes, Couscous, Feta

Yeast, Peppers, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Salami, Cherry tomatoes, Grated cheese, Mozzarella, Ham, Paprika, Corn, Carrot, Herb butter, Potatoes, Garlic

Toilet cleaner, Beans, Potatoes, Pork chop, Meat salad, Cheese, Sausages, Minced meat, Meat, Garlic, Stamps, Flatbread, Buns, Oranges, Bread, Tomatoes, Cream

Oatmeal, Cornflakes, Chicken nuggets, Potato salad, Mashed potatoes, Potatoes, Carrots, Peas

Juice, Blueberries, Melted cheese, Cashew nuts, Oatmeal, Lotion, Deodorant, Pickled cucumbers, Cheese, Toasted bread, Fish oil, Cola, Fruit, Toast, Buns, Cream cheese

Olives, Painkillers, Apples, Pizza, Bananas, Butter, Cream cheese, Body lotion, Toothpaste, Trash bags

Milk, Bread, Cream cheese, Grated cheese, Sausages, Strawberries, Wine, Baguette, Cheese, Butter, Sausages, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Cookies

Potatoes, Grapefruit, Zucchini, Carrots, Potato flour, Raspberries, Bananas

Cheese, Sausages, Sheep cheese, Tomatoes, Chips, Turkey, Potatoes, Quark, Mozzarella, Lotion, Laundry detergent, Caraway, Coconut milk, Sprouts, Mushrooms, Peas, Leeks, Garlic, Broccoli, Lemon

Bread, Chips, Grapes, Spinach, Schnitzel, Schnitzel sauce, Hazelnuts, Coating chocolate, Potatoes, Sausages, Cheese

Brussels sprouts, Dumpling dough, Beans, Fish

Fabric softener, Toasted bread, Butter, Margarine, Dish soap, Wet wipes, Trash bags, Coffee cream, Dishwasher tablets

Meatballs, Salami, Ham, Bread, Spread, Crème fraîche, Whipped cream, Noodle dough, Water, Cigarettes, Newspaper

Bananas, Kiwi, Passion fruit, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Rice, Noodles, Coffee, Toasted bread, Cornflakes, Sausages, Cheese, Yogurt, Milk, Cheese, Wiener, Sausages, Camembert, Turkey breast, Lemonade, Juice, Radler, Hair wash, Toilet cleaner, Laundry detergent, Toothbrushes, Trash bags

Minced meat, Walnuts, Lemonade, Chocolate raisins, Oranges, Lemons, Apples, Milk, Water

Vinegar, Toilet paper, Apples, Oranges, Pears, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Mustard pickles, Condoms, Mustard, Vegan Milk

Onions, Vegan feta, Tomato sauce, Head lettuce

Dishwasher tablets

Apples, Lettuce, Parsley, Potatoes, Peppers, Zucchini, Broccoli, Jam, Cheese, Soy sauce, Grated cheese, Milk, Bread, Noodles, Dish soap, Laundry detergent, Toothpaste, Kitchen roll, Toilet paper, Grilled cheese, Tortellini, Roast vegetables

Sparkling wine, Rosé, Sausages, Minced meat, Bratwurst, Stuffed rolls

Savoy cabbage, Broccoli

Glass cleaner, Sagrotan, Bathroom cleaner, Toilet cleaner, Quetschi, Cashew butter

Grocery Item Co-Occurrence Network

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