Stimulating work

Stimulating work

London – Central Saint Martins (CSM) graduate Nicky Vu imagines how societal acceptance of cognitive enhancers will affect our lifestyles.

Article/19667 ea5
Sin-Thetic Superpowers by Nicky Vu, London Sin-Thetic Superpowers by Nicky Vu, London
Sin-Thetic Superpowers by Nicky Vu, London Sin-Thetic Superpowers by Nicky Vu, London
Sin-Thetic Superpowers by Nicky Vu, London Sin-Thetic Superpowers by Nicky Vu, London

London – For his final project, Central Saint Martins (CSM) graduate Nicky Vu imagined how societal acceptance of cognitive enhancers will affect our lifestyles.

  • Sin-Thetic Superpowers is a speculative project imagining a society that runs on stimulants
  • Vu uses a kitsch 1950s aesthetic to evoke the era in which the modern pharmaceutical industry was born

Recent research cited by Vu shows that one in five British students has already taken cognitive enhancement drugs including Modafinil, Ritalin and Adderall to keep them focused for longer in the hope of performing better in their studies.

‘Nowadays there is an undeniable competitive nature in our society, and it is pushing us to work and exceed our natural limit,’ explains Vu. ‘In order to cope with these new pressures, we are turning to drugs and stimulants to get ahead of the game.’

For his final project on CSM’s Material Futures Master’s course, Vu has created prototypes for products designed to fit this society in which cognitive enhancers are widely accepted and tiredness is taboo. Vu created products including the Lappy Carry, a laptop harness that lets people work on the go, and a series of skincare products and applicators to fight the rashes caused by Modafinil abuse.

The Big Picture

Created for Silicon Valley hackers, nootropics are food-based products that boost specific cognitive functions, including memory and resilience to stress, and are finding their way into the mainstream. Find out more in The Optimised Self macrotrend.

Discover More News
Cash App taps Timothée Chalamet for youth-friendly money talk

News

Cash App taps Timothée Chalamet for youth-friendly money talk

Cash App has launched an integrated brand campaign featuring Academy Award-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet which aims to foster intergenerational...
Finance : Gen Z : Youth
Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, ...
Beauty : The Synthocene Era : Virtual Beauty
Stat: Southeast Asia is TikTok’s largest advertising audience

News

Stat: Southeast Asia is TikTok’s largest advertising audience

Southeast Asia now accounts for nearly a quarter of TikTok’s global advertising audience, according to the Digital 2025: July Statshot report.
Statistic : Stat : Southeast Asia
Spktrl’s AI diamond ring aims to cut screen time

News

Spktrl’s AI diamond ring aims to cut screen time

Parisian start-up Spktrl is reimagining wearable technology with the launch of its AI-powered Light Ring, a piece of high jewellery designed to cur...
Wellness : Augmented Human : The Synthocene Era
Represent launches in-person fitness competition 247 Mission Rivington

News

Represent launches in-person fitness competition 247 Mission Rivington

British fashion brand Represent has held its first-ever fitness event, 247 Mission Rivington, with 100 athletes competing in a 12‑hour endurance ch...
Sport : Fashion : Fitness
Stat: Technological innovation is driving the future of beauty

News

Stat: Technological innovation is driving the future of beauty

Wealth divides, digital tools and regional identity are reshaping the international beauty market, according to The State of Fashion: Beauty Volume...
Statistic : Stat : Beauty
AI-generated images of animals in plastic help WWF-Korea raise awareness about pollution

News

AI-generated images of animals in plastic help WWF-Korea raise awareness about pollution

WWF-Korea has launched Animal Trash Fashion, a powerful out-of-home campaign using AI to starkly illustrate the devastating impact of plastic pollu...
Sustainability : Design : Advertising
Rixo launches pre-loved resale platform

News

Rixo launches pre-loved resale platform

British fashion brand Rixo is expanding its circular ambitions with the launch of Rixo Pre-Loved, a resale platform where customers buy and sell it...
Retail : Fashion : Sutainability
Stat: Global business travel spending hits historic high

News

Stat: Global business travel spending hits historic high

Business travel is set to reach a record £1.18 trillion ($1.57 trillion, €1.36 trillion) by the end of 2025, according to ...
Stat : Statistic : Global Travel Market
Axe gamifies fragrance sampling with arcade-inspired bus stop activation

News

Axe gamifies fragrance sampling with arcade-inspired bus stop activation

Axe is making fragrance sampling fun again with a new campaign for its Cherry Fizz body spray.
Advertising : Fragrance : Retail
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN