EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF BEAUTY

The following research projects study possible future intersections between technology and the human body. They explore scenarios where technology merges with the body, a space where the perception of the body and the concept of beauty are challenged, along with future possible applications of embedded technology. 

The research uses the disciplines of beauty technology and speculative design as a medium to explore the possibilities of the human body in a future, the cultural values and social connotations challenged through a technologically-altered body, as well as exploring new perceptions and connotations of beauty that emerge as a consequence of these paradigms.

TECHOSMETICS & THE SYNTHETIC SKIN SALON

INSPIRATION

This project is driven by current scientific research that explores ways to synthesise human biology, offering glimpses of improved efficiency, health risk reductions, or simply for ultimate convenience. These biotechnologies by nature promise and present a way humans could notably improve their condition, challenging the values and ethics of our society and regardingour body.

The research foresees the construction of this posthuman identity and its relation to the body through the analysis of different theories around culture, identity, and technology.

The intentions are to raise critical questions over the understanding of the possible cultural and social implications of these biotechnologies, presenting how an obsession to beautify the body could eventually shift into a new body performance-based obsession. By ultimately foreseeing and presenting new horizons for the beauty industry, it enables us to unearth new possibilities as we consider our physiological selves as more than simply a beautiful cage for the present, but as a true medium for technology in the future.

THE INSTALLATION

The installation proposed in 2017 intended to immerse the audience in the Synthetic Skin Salon, a fictional skin-service salon that represents how these genetic procedures could become a common practice to boost the body’s biological functions. Accordingly, a series of improved bioengineered skins was proposed as products consumed by this evolved society. The installation included:

  • The Skin Directory: a catalogue with the functions of the synthetic skins (not included here)

  • A counter with the Skin Samples (not included here)

  • The Synthetic Bodies: A series of body parts (can be seen below)

  • A series of images portraying the Techosmetic Culture (showcased below)

SPECIAL THANKS

Skin Archive & Bodies Photography by George Cassells

Skin Illustrations by Fong Mei Pang

Techosmetic Culture Photography by Diana Ríos
Make-up by Summer Wei
Models Jane Engmann, Andrew Weber and Romy Bank

Project Guidance and Production Advice by Alexa Pollmann, Sitraka Rakotoniaina, and Sophie De Oliveira.

ANTI-SWEAT SKIN - From Speculative Design research TECHOSMETICS & THE SYNTHETIC SKIN SALON. Diagram of the human skin to showcase the artificially engineered skin with thermal insulation and anti-sweat properties.
ANTI-SWEAT SKIN - From Speculative Design research TECHOSMETICS & THE SYNTHETIC SKIN SALON. A woman wearing workout clothes with ACTIVATED ANTI-SWEAT SKIN on her shoulders and arms.
ANTI-SWEAT SKIN - From Speculative Design research TECHOSMETICS & THE SYNTHETIC SKIN SALON. A skin sample reproduction of ACTIVATED AND DEACTIVATED ANTI-SWEAT SKIN.
CHLOROPHYLL SKIN - From Speculative Design research TECHOSMETICS & THE SYNTHETIC SKIN SALON. Diagram of the human skin to indicate sun absorption and nutrient transport through the veins.
CHLOROPHYLL SKIN - From Speculative Design research TECHOSMETICS & THE SYNTHETIC SKIN SALON. A man with artificially engineered CHLOROPHYLL SKIN to absorb the sun as an alternative form of nutrition.
CHLOROPHYLL SKIN - From Speculative Design research TECHOSMETICS & THE SYNTHETIC SKIN SALON. A skin sample reproduction of CHLOROPHYLL SKIN.
SETAE SKIN - From Speculative Design research TECHOSMETICS & THE SYNTHETIC SKIN SALON. Diagram of the human skin to showcase the artificially engineered skin that provides attachment on to surfaces.
SETAE SKIN - From Speculative Design research TECHOSMETICS & THE SYNTHETIC SKIN SALON. A seamstress in her studio with SETAE SKIN implanted on her arms.
SETAE SKIN - From Speculative Design research TECHOSMETICS & THE SYNTHETIC SKIN SALON. A skin sample reproduction of engineerd SETAE SKIN on a hand.

HAIRYCEPTION

INSPIRATION

What if hair could provide tactile sensory experiences and allow a communication between humans through its movements? The project explores the augmentation of human senses considering hair as an artificial organ capable to senses the environment. Presenting hair as a body extremity that provides a different interpretation of the environment.

Senses are responsible to provide the information about the environment, it is through how we perceive the world. This information is then processed in the brain to create a map of our reality. However, this reality can be altered if our senses are enhanced, extended, substituted or even if new senses are created. Each of these last possibilities provides an immerse experience that alter the perception of the subject, allowing to perceive the world from a different “umwelt”.

The project explores a different branch of wearable technology that considers its use to stimulate human condition. Embracing the idea of creating new senses through technology to create new perceptions. Inspired by biomimcry and the functions of animal hair in nature, the project presents how it could be to enhance the function of human hair to provide a new level of communication, and how this alternative new sense could possibly enhance human condition

THE MECHANORECEPTIVE WIG

The prototype presents a different tactile sensory experience, providing an opportunity for the wearer to discover the environment by using hair as an intermediate to perceive. The idea is that hair could be used to serve other purposes, in this case, to extend our “umwelt”.

The prototype allows to interpret pressure and motion through hair thanks to a vibration output that is felt on the neck of the wearer. Allowing the wearer to interpret the hair movements through vibration; when the hair moves, is being touched or touches other surfaces. A conceptual video is presented to imagine how the this alternative sense could provide new forms of communication as well as enhancing the human condition.