“New You” is a speculative design project that asks: where does the contemporary obsession with self-improvement lead? The author starts from the premise that in a world where we are losing the right to repair objects, we turn to repairing ourselves. During her research, she found an ideological link between the self-help industry, which is flourishing online, and the world of Silicon Valley, where the transhumanism movement is becoming increasingly popular.

Prompted by ideas of a transhumanist future, she designed the product “New You”, a humanoid robot sold as an ideal version of ourselves. Its appearance is inspired by haunted porcelain dolls in a classic horror style. The face, based on a scan of the author’s face, is 3D printed, and the hair and clothing were chosen to make “New You” resemble the author as much as possible.

In the product application scenario, depicted in a short video, the humanoid robot serves as a prop in a play illustrating the user’s relationship with herself, going through phases of self-improvement and self-destruction. However, a software “bug” causes an unpredictable turn of events in which the product takes the initiative, actively demonstrating free will and dominance. It is possible that it is not a bug at all, but a programmed action of the product, whose goal is not only to improve the user, but to replace her entirely.

The project deals with the uncomfortable area of identity as a product and explores how willing we are to surrender our freedom to technology companies in order to achieve a perfect version of ourselves. Will we embrace the devaluation of humanity if it is beautifully packaged?