The Search Engine
My final year project uncovered a topic that weighs heavily on the minds of people like myself who struggle with digital dependency and modern-world paranoia, particularly surrounding smartphones and AI. I aimed to discover humanity in its rawest state and propel this understanding into a digital detox facility for the benefit of the public.
Through developing an interior design proposal with an organic, human approach, I found that our physical bodies represent the most authentic aspect of our existence. This inspired me to incorporate human anatomy into all aspects of my project, from site analysis to the design of amenities within the facility.
Throughout the academic year, I concluded that addressing digitality is never a linear process. I confronted a technological paradox: struggling to disconnect from my own devices while designing a space meant for digital detox. I wanted my design process to align with the ethos of my proposal, but this proved genuinely challenging.
What remains is an amalgamation of ideas that resist the side effects of screentime and A.i, propelled through a series of installations and amenities within the Botanic Gardens Railway. ‘The Search Engine’ is an evolving digital detox facility that strives to confront the often underacknowledged challenges of the dark side of the digital age.
In the absence of the smartphone, who will we become?
