An analogue solution to our digital misbehavior

Client
Stupid Studio

Type
Branding, Experience

Although some experts claim this is medically impossible, our Zmartfone Blocker functions as an analogue blocker of Dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with compulsive smartphone use. The Zmartfone Blocker patches physically block the user’s access to their smartphone’s screen, over time reducing the anticipation for – and feeling of – reward experienced from incoming texts, emails and notifications.

We created the Zmartfone Blocker as a speculative design artefact to trigger important conversations about our (your?) digital misbehaviour and excess screen usage. One of Denmark's biggest companies ended up buying a Zmarfone Blocker box for all their employees to mitigate stress and burnout. 

1. https://longreads.com/2017/06/13/a-sociology-of-the-smartphone/
   
2. https://www.businessinsider.com/what-your-smartphone-is-doing-to-your-brain-and-it-isnt-good-2018-3?r=US&IR=T
   
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-cell-phone-use-cause-adhd-2018073114375
   
4. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-do-smartphones-affect-the-brain-2794892
   
5. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/smartphones-revolutionize-our-lives-but-at-what-cost
   
6. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-08824-y
   
7. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/digital-amnesia-excessive-use-of-mobile-phone-could-lead-to-memory-loss-61660
   
8. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/06/gse-phones-study/
   
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563218301912
   
10. https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi article=1590&context=ots_masters_projects