You need to touch grass, you’re an ant

“You should touch grass, you’re an ant” is a critical design project inspired by a common scene: people constantly looking at their phones in public spaces. It asks why disconnecting feels so difficult and argues that digital platforms are designed to capture and retain our attention.

Drawing a parallel with army ants (Eciton burchellii), which can become trapped in endless circular trails, the project explores how users enter unconscious digital loops. The installation combines an ant-head wearable displaying a looping video and a grass beanbag, symbolising an attempt to reconnect with the physical world while remaining trapped in the cycle.