Friction design against doomscrolling
2026
Type
Design Critique
Client
University case of study
Info
This project was created during a 48-hour hackathon as a critical design intervention to question doomscrolling and digital overconsumption.
We designed an intentionally uncomfortable system that made opening Instagram harder by adding friction, cognitive load, and physical effort, turning access into a moment of pause and reflection instead of instant gratification.
My role
I was responsible for the UI design and prototyping of the interface. I designed the user flow, screens, copy, and visual language of the plugin, making sure the experience communicated guilt, pressure, and discomfort in a clear but engaging way.
Challenge
One of the biggest challenges was designing an interface that was intentionally frustrating while still being understandable and functional.
Since the project was developed in a 48-hour hackathon, we also had to make fast decisions, prototype quickly, and solve technical issues under strong time pressure
Process
We began with low-fidelity wireframes to map the flow of opening Instagram and replaced the usual seamless interaction with a sequence of barriers.
I designed screens that showed wasted time, challenged the user with a password, and increased pressure through countdowns, ironic copy, and sound.
In parallel, we developed a physical phone case with back buttons connected to an Arduino board, so the password had to be entered through an awkward multi-step interaction.
We iterated the prototype several times to solve interaction and integration issues along the way.
Outcome
The final result was a working prototype that combined a high-fidelity mobile interface with a custom physical phone case connected via Bluetooth.
The experience successfully created different layers of friction, including physical discomfort, cognitive overload, time pressure, and emotional tension, encouraging users to reflect on their scrolling habits.
Reflection
This project taught me how to manage stress and keep moving forward when things were not working as expected. Under the pressure of a 48-hour hackathon, I learned how important it is to stay calm, adapt quickly, and trust the process. It also reminded me how valuable a supportive team is, especially in difficult moments, and how much better challenges can be handled when people encourage each other and work together.