SHREEYA LUKESH PATIL
Mr. Saurabh Srivastava
shreeya_p@nid.edu
This speculative project reimagines acne not as a flaw to be hidden, but as a biological signal reflecting the complex interplay of environmental, social, and cultural realities. Through speculative design and storytelling, the project envisions a near-future where the skin becomes a living interface acne glows in response to pollution, acts as a social feedback mechanism, and evolves into a tool for diagnosis. Drawing on advances in microbiology, the narrative centers on Cutibacterium acnes. In this imagined future, urban pollution and societal pressures cause the bacterium to mutate, producing luminous compounds that make acne lesions glow. These glowing marks become visible indicators of exposure to environmental toxins, turning faces into dynamic maps of urban risk. This project challenges conventional beauty standards by proposing that what was once stigmatized could be celebrated as a sign of resilience. It invites reflection on how technology and biology could merge to create new forms of communication.