Have We Made Life Too Fast?

On one quiet and lazy Sunday morning, it took every inch of my body and mind to focus on reading a book. The sheer temptation to check my phone, switch on the TV, or get lost in a web of worries was palpable.

The book wasn't the issue. My attitude was. I managed 7 minutes of reading before I subconsciously caved to the ping of a phone notification.

This is modern-day life for you and me.

A modern life where we experience daily on average:

• 10,000 adverts

• 121 emails

• 146 phone notifications

• 143 minutes on social media

• 4 hours of audio content

• 2.5 hours of video content

No wonder ChatGPT processes over 3.2 billion queries each day. Our brains simply cannot process any more information.

Or, is AI in fact part of the fast-paced modern life we struggle with too?!

Nature does not hurry

Ironically, the book I was attempting to read that Sunday morning was the work of philosopher Lao Tzu. The founder of philosophy and religion of Taoism, Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese thinker from 2,500 years ago. His core ideas were simple:

The Way

He believed that there is a natural force that guides the entire universe. He believed people should live in harmony with this, rather than fighting against it.

Effortless Action

He believed humans should flow with life like water - bending instead of breaking and achieving goals without forcing things. Effectively, "doing by not doing".

Simplicity & Humility

He believed true happiness comes from living a simple life, letting go of pride and not chasing after fame, wealth or power.

I think modern society continues to hold these ideas as utopia. After all, who doesn't want a life that is more simple, enjoyable and rooted in the present?

Today's guests

The shift towards a wellness-driven population has long been in the pipeline in the history of the Western world. The pivot from industrial revolution to the digital economy has meant the attributes of a consumer's spare time, now look very different to what consumers did 50 years ago. Combined with the movement for a "healthier me" in body, heart, mind and spirit - means today's guests want human connection more than ever.

Hugs, holding hands, gazing into each other's eyes, and so on.

Being human also means being connected with the natural world around us. In the eyes of Lao Tzu, we are one and the same thing.

This makes sense of our industry's growing desire for more biophilic design, nature-inspired IPs and a deeper consideration of how we design and construct new attractions with sustainability in mind.

From what to how

Looking beyond guest requirements in the here and now, we need to change the question we ask ourselves when creating theme parks, new zones, themed accommodation, experiences, museums and more...

The question isn't "What shall we create?" anymore, it's "How will our space be used?"

Understanding what future guests want to think, feel and do in the future are the answers we should be looking to first. What we can see from our analysis at Katapult is as simple as Lao Tzu's considerations - let's slow (some) things down.

Restoration, not escapism

The greatest achievement in today's industry is a guest's sigh of contentment. That 'relief' we feel with a smile on our face that everything is great. All our experiences should focus on restoring the knowledge of a knowledge seeker, and the thrill levels of a coaster fan - rather than simply letting them 'escape' their everyday life. Attractions are the charging points for the soul.

The day, not the moment

Resonance and deep feelings of joy come from our mind's interpreting the whole stay at an attraction as a success. The flying theatre may have been incredible for the guest, but has it been compromised by simple things like the toilets? We should take accountability of the whole experience our guests witness.

Awe, not just the awesome

We are humans on a giant rock flying through space, of course, we are going to be influenced by the awe of something bigger than ourselves. This doesn't just talk to the scale of a ride or attraction, it's about the guest feeling part of a movement or story that outlives and outgrows life's footprints.

Design answers for philosophical questions

Listening to our human nature isn't a fad or trend. As Lao Tzu's work from 2,500 years ago shows - it continues to be a struggle for us to realise that speed isn't the answer. Modern life worships speed, but deep growth - like healing, learning and relationships - cannot be forced.

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished" - Lao Tzu

The design answers to this question (and many more) are always in our mind at Katapult. Our job as designers is to create destinations that foster joy and subsequently contribute to better healing, learning and relationships.

That's why we're so passionate about both understanding people and the planet with as much insights as we can possibly get. It's why we're doing a PhD study into neuroinclusion. It's why we plant thousands of trees every year. It's why we're the world's first and only B-Corp certified attraction design company. It's why we're internally scrutinising what would make the most inclusive and sustainable theme park masterplan ever created.

Slow down at IAAPA

If you feel the need to slow the pace at IAAPA Expo in London, we've got plenty of things to keep you occupied.

• Step back 25 years and grab a copy of our retro magazine featuring games, quizzes and calming challenges

• Step aboard our bus (stand S-837) and meet us at our exclusive rooftop space, while overlooking the hype of the show floor