Look no further than the “Skincase” if you’ve ever wanted to make using a smartphone as uncomfortable as possible. In partnership with the British Skin Foundation and telecom provider O2, Marc Teyssier created this phone case, which uncannily resembles the texture and appearance of human skin. As if that weren’t scary enough, the Skincase even gets sunburnt, just like actual human skin, in response to the sun.
Although the idea may seem blatantly macabre, the Skincase’s motivation is actually more charitable than it first seems. The case acts as an instinctive reminder to shield your skin from damaging UV rays. It seeks to emphasise the significance of sun safety in a concrete, almost unsettling way as the case’s fake skin wilts and reddens in the sun.
Teyssier stated, “We don’t expect our phones to change or react in a human-like manner.” “The Skincase not only increases awareness about sun safety but also reinforces the undeniable priority of sun protection by evoking a tangible, visceral reaction to UV exposure.”
This peculiar yet useful design is one of the few instances of transforming our smartphone addiction into something useful. The Skincase aims to remind users of the significance of sunscreen in light of record-breaking temperatures and growing concerns about skin cancer. After all, about one in five Americans will develop skin cancer before the age of 70, and frequent use of sunscreen greatly lowers the risk of developing this disease.
Unfortunately, research indicates that a large number of people disregard sun protection. According to a 2020 National Health Interview Survey, only 29% of women and 12.3% of men regularly used sunscreen. Worse yet, 37% of Gen Zers are among the 27% of people who only apply sunscreen when instructed to do so.
The Skincase might not be as absurd as it seems in light of these figures. For years, Teyssier has been creating designs that are inspired by skin; her earlier works included soft skin folds that responded to touch. This strange phone case might serve as a wake-up call for many people to start taking sun protection more seriously, if nothing else.
