Spence and teammates studied how what food looks like influences its appeal. They report that “In recent years, a growing number of academic researchers, as well as many marketing and design practitioners, have uncovered a variety of factors that would appear to enhance the visual attractiveness, or deliciousness, of food images to the typical consumer. This review, which contains both narrative and systematic elements, critically evaluates the literature concerning the various factors influencing the eye appeal of food images, no matter whether there is an edible food stimulus physically present in front of the viewer or not. . . . The wide range of visual attributes that help to enhance food attractiveness include symmetry, shape, freshness, glossiness, dynamic-presentation, etc.”
Charles Spence, Kosuke Motoki, and Olivia Petit. 2022. “Factors Influencing the Visual Deliciousness/Eye-Appeal of Food.” Food Quality and Preference, vol. 102, 104672, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104672