His eyes are elsewhere
Imagining the future requires a foundation in the present. Modern dating is shifting from real-life meetings to online convenience, where users curate profiles to attract as many partners as possible. However, the outcome for many is dissatisfaction. I imagined a future where this trend continues dramatically: a man sits across from his partner, yet his eyes peer beyond her, searching for his next match. This makes the future dating scene feel tangible by exaggerating our current reality.
Free Shipping
Commentary on overconsumption is undeniable, yet our system makes it difficult to change habits. In this future, there is never a shortage of things to acquire, but there is a shortage of space. I illustrated a lonely house sitting atop a sea of storage boxes. Humanity's greed has left us with no room to live; products are no longer the commodity—space is.
GMO
GMOs have turned food into science experiments. In the foreseeable future, natural growth has become obsolete, and produce is entirely manufactured. My illustration depicts a lab-grown apple, enlarged dramatically to become human-sized. This comedic approach highlights the absurdity of removing nature from a natural process until it becomes unrecognizable.
Now Arriving
Rapid population growth without proper planning has created dense hotspots. Instead of improving infrastructure, cities simply become taller and subways deeper. Inspired by Toronto’s struggling transit system, I illustrated a convoluted subway network with overlapping rails and trains plunging deeper underground. It represents a future where we focus on expansion over efficiency.
No Signal
While technology promises to simplify life, the opposite often occurs. Updates and advancements have become a constant annoyance, adding stress rather than solutions. I illustrated a room covered in motherboards, cords, and plugs just to set up a TV, with a woman in the foreground daunted by the unnecessary complexity of the task.
I Want One
This illustration critiques the obsession with status symbols. Scientific advancements have reintroduced extinct species like dodo birds, sabertooth tigers, and woolly mammoths. These animals are now sold as commodities to the rich. I depicted a busy street where people flaunt these "reclaimed" animals as ultimate fashion statements.
Destination, Paradise
Rising flight costs have made travel inaccessible for many. Dystopian solutions, such as standing seats on planes, are already being discussed. I exaggerated this by imagining a booth that allows consumers to "travel" without leaving the airport. These booths feature
wrap-around imagery, ambient sound, and scent dispensers, offering a simulated experience for those who cannot afford the real thing.
Highly Strung
Modern cities prioritize profit over the resident experience. Urban noise and overpopulation have made it impossible to find peace. This illustration depicts a man using a device designed to remedy overstimulation. Instead of fixing the environment, society created another product: cords connect to his head so he can hold conversations through the chaos, while glasses block out intrusive advertising.
It’s Not Hard To Imagine
It’s Not Hard To Imagine is an editorial series that projects humanity's foreseeable obstacles into the future to address existing societal stresses.
