hands & tools
curated making
INTRODUCTION
Project Scenario:
Omnipresent smartphones and internet technologies claim more and more space in our everyday lives and leave little time for self-determined activities anymore. This can lead to the development of addictive behaviours, which may cause anxiety, depression and eventually result in the loss of control of our lives.
Therefore it is even more important to reclaim some of our valuable time.
Objective:
Raise awareness for mental health issues in relation with online technologies & social media.
Create a meaningful activity programm to reclaim evening time from online technologies, using aspects of behavioural therapies.
Royal College of Art, London
2019
"Hands & Tools - curated making" was part of a group exhibition of RCA Design-Products and shown at Ventura Futures during Milan Design Week 2019.
is an activity program to introduce the user to various making and handcrafting skills and to empower establishing positive habits outside the online world.
Within its concept, it is using aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, which are commonly being used to treat addiction disorders:
overall duration
of 12 weeks
clear and multilayered structure
defined
offline time
engage with
meaningful activities
motivational incentives
(rewards)
The making activities are carefully curated & structured by experienced craftsmen and designed as evening lessons at the kitchen table.
range of making kits
Each toolkit includes all necessary tools, materials and instructions, enabling the user to learn basic techniques of the chosen craft and refine these over a period of six weeks.
lessons & skill levels
If the user wishes to continue, an additional making kit provides further instructions, specialized tools and more materials.
This finally leaves the users with advanced techniques and a skillset to continue with their own projects.
example:
LEATher making
tools overview
example making roject: wallet
project feedback
„your project / craft programme for recovery is a very good idea for many reasons but one which stands out in my mind. That is to provide a programme or activity that helps relieve the boredom especially in the early days of recovery. Boredom is probably one of the biggest triggers for relapse so in this context I think your idea succeeds. It also provides as you say the opportunity to be creative , learn a craft and contribute which are important characteristics for recovery.“
Addiction Psychologist
„As you mentioned, with technology addiction - as well as with other addictions - distractions and the substitution of the behaviours with more positive ones tends to hugely
benefit people.“
Integrative Psychotherapist
„On a very general note based on other work that I do I can say that the multi sensory aspect of your proposed activities is very good and the more of that the more it’s likely to be engaging and perhaps able to compete with the visual attractiveness of a phone.
The motivational aspect is also very good but what is motivational enough for your target population to “beat their addiction”?“
Clinical Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry
Imperial College London
„From a ‘therapeutic’ point of view a structured course like the one you describe seems sensible. People with addictions are encouraged during treatment to take up meaningful activities that promote wellbeing and foster healthy habits.“
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Kings College, London