2026 · The Attention Economy
NPC MODE
By Aranya Anurag · placeholder, awaiting media upload
We observed a pattern of users reaching for their phones as a form of morning stimulation, which led to distraction, delayed routines, and negative emotions like anxiety, guilt, and frustration highlighting a need to redesign how morning activation is experienced.
This project explores how morning routines are often disrupted not by a lack of discipline but by smartphone design that prioritises immediate engagement. The habit of scrolling first thing in the morning is not a personal failure, but a design outcome where attention is captured before intention is formed, creating a cycle of distraction, delay, and frustration at the start of the day. NPC MODE shifts morning phone use from passive scrolling to intentional action. It combin
This project explores how morning routines are often disrupted not by a lack of discipline but by smartphone design that prioritises immediate engagement. The habit of scrolling first thing in the morning is not a personal failure, but a design outcome where attention is captured before intention is formed, creating a cycle of distraction, delay, and frustration at the start of the day.
NPC MODE shifts morning phone use from passive scrolling to intentional action. It combines a physical phone case with a gamified digital interface. At night, users “lock in” their morning plan. The next day, the phone remains restricted and unlocks only after tasks are completed through tactile interaction with the case system. Each completed task earns “hearts,” gradually restoring access to the device.
NPC MODE turns mornings into an active, game-like process, helping users regain control of their attention and start the day with clarity.