The consumption of psychedelics has been undergoing an image transformation in recent years. This revival is driven by medical research and reflected in diverse offerings such as retreats combined with psilocybin intake, online courses on mushroom cultivation, guides on microdosing, or Ayahuasca tourism. These diverse products and services have given rise to a new aesthetic of psychedelic consumption. This Master’s thesis examines and decodes these aesthetics within the context of socio-cultural trends such as holistic health, secular spirituality, singularisation and neo-ecology.
The result is the platform high-reframed.com: A combination of speculative drug shop and digital trend report, the online store emphasises the commercial aspect of the current psychedelic revival and allows users to interactively explore the diverse aspects of this topic.
«The jury of the Trends & Identity specialisation nominates this work for its high relevance and successful realisation, but also its suitability as a starting point for a potential research project. Linking up different disciplines, universities and perspectives [...], this is a perceptive project, an interactively explorable trend and consumerism report which is likely to make waves – in the health and lifestyle market, in sociological and cultural research, as well as in future and design research.» – Excerpt supporting statement of the Subject Area Trends & Identity
«This project addresses the divisive subject of the current psychedelics revival and makes it accessible in an interactive way. Usually the medical viewpoint dominates, whereas the reality of recreational use is given little attention.» – Kasia Sroka
«I would like to carry on working at the interface between design, (trend) research and communication because I find it extremely fascinating to analyse and decode developments in society from a design angle. Currently, my focus is on a research project in the area of psychedelics and health design, and I am very excited about it!» – Kasia Sroka
