Story of

How is the idea generated?
And what is it all about?

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Testing in the woods where the logs are collected with the prototype LogY.

Hei! As you can see, I have some difficulties showing my face. On top of that, I’ve carried the weight of early trauma and years of overload from living and working in Asia’s overpopulated concrete jungles. That’s why I finally decided to stop everything and restart my life by beginning a master’s program in the arts in northern Finland, where the population is much smaller.

The vast openness of nature here has given me a safe space for inner reflection and healing. And it’s not just me—many of my friends also struggle with mental health issues, most commonly depression. In severe cases of depression, you sometimes don’t even have the energy to get out of bed. All you can manage is lying down and scrolling on your phone. Therapists often recommend walking in nature as a way to help, but when you’re trapped in your mind, even that can feel impossible.

From the perspective of modern medicine, this is usually the point where medication becomes necessary. But from my own experience of connecting more deeply with nature, I’ve been fortunate enough to regain strength and restore myself. Now, I feel it is time to give back.

This is the starting point of my product series, LogL. I wanted to create something that could help both myself and others who are dealing with similar struggles—especially those who don’t want to rely solely on medication when facing psychological difficulties.

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The prototypes, LogY, LogFireflies, and LogCandlestick in the same woods.
As I researched the history of Western medicine over the past century, I was surprised to discover that many drugs now widely misused and abused were originally developed to treat depression. The brain’s complex network of “happy hormone” mechanisms is far too delicate to manipulate precisely. Yet, freshly synthesized pharmaceuticals—whose long-term effects on the human body were not well understood—were often marketed as quick-acting interventions, driven by the promise of tremendous business profits. Tragically, many of these substances went on to cause widespread addiction worldwide.

By contrast, Eastern medicine has, for thousands of years, approached healing in a more holistic way. Rather than isolating what seems to be the most effective substance at the molecular level, it emphasizes balance and harmony, often using carefully combined natural herbs to treat the body as a whole. While modern medicine has undoubtedly brought immense benefits in curing physical illness, I believe it may not always offer the best solutions for psychological disorders. In parallel, non-intrusive practices like psychoanalysis have developed to address the workings of the mind and human thought.

Aware of the unexpected side effects and potential setbacks of intrusive modern treatments for mental health, I chose a different path after graduating in the arts. I turned toward alternative therapies—drawing on both the healing power of nature and the creative process of art.

This is the foundation of LogL. It is designed to bring nature indoors, offering a restorative presence that supports mental balance and emotional well-being.

By seeing it, touching it, and smelling it, you begin to feel more grounded—reconnecting the senses of your body with your mind. A little less emptiness. A little more strength returning.

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the ‘play’ button and listen. Each stick gives a different sound.

In creating LogL, I focus not only on the essential process of preparing the wood—such as carefully drying it (have you ever tried drying wood in the oven? It smells like baking bread, XD) and finishing it with pure, cold-pressed linseed oil for protection against cracks and mold—but also on preserving the natural traits of the material. I deliberately keep the lichen and imperfect bark layer intact. The subtle, layered scent of the raw wood combined with the linseed oil creates a soothing atmosphere. Each piece carries its own aroma and character.

Every LogL biomaterial is unique. And it will be unique for you.

The prototype LogY

The thinking behind creating a Non-Standard Standard Product like LogL comes from recognizing a turning point: we are entering an era where AI will become powerful enough to produce nearly perfect digital products. But I believe the pursuit of perfection leads nowhere. As a former digital designer, I’ve often wondered: what is the true innovation that humans can create and sustain in the long run?

The process of cutting, drying, and oiling the logs.
Digitalization increasingly alienates people, confining us to small screens—a factor that contributes to mental health issues. Should human interaction be limited to a screen? I beg to differ. My goal is to design real, tangible objects that foster meaningful interaction—objects that nurture and care for people, rather than addicting them through algorithms or numbing them with endless “tittytainment” that ultimately worsens mental well-being.

1-2: The bundle of trigger sticks with magnet on the tip from the LogLucid series; 3-4: the prototypes of LogLament product line.

Now, let me reveal the hidden logic behind the design of LogL. Beyond the conceptual explanations I’ve shared to make the product sound “reasonable” and “plausible,” the underlying mechanism that could truly make it effective is, in fact, the placebo effect. It’s the mindset—the positive thinking, mindfulness, or anchored belief of “I will get better”—that, combined with interaction with the object, ultimately supports healing, especially in mental health. Even doubt or disbelief in its effectiveness can reinforce the idea of improvement. Just like when someone says, “Don’t think of an elephant in the room,” what comes to mind immediately? Exactly—an elephant. Negative thinking, too, can reinforce the presence of an idea.

This leads me to the broader discussion of “alternative treatments.” If you look at mainstream Western therapies like CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), MBT (Mentalization-Based Treatment), MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy), or MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), you will see traces of how they were “inspired” (or, to put it bluntly, borrowed or even taken) from traditional practices such as Chinese medicine, Daoism, Buddhism, and other so-called “not scientific enough” Eastern methods. Yet today, these very roots are repackaged under the label alternative treatment. Does that make sense? One may wonder.

I started this project to invite those curious enough to test this theory with me. I call my approach IGPET (Interactive Gadget Placebo Effective Therapy)—and yes, the acronym itself is part of the placebo effect (do you see the irony?).

The pioneer batch of LogLucid means a lot to me on a personal level. It’s not something that everyone will understand or resonate with. But if even 0.1% of the 7.9 billion people in the world can relate, then what I am doing is not in vain. And if you do find meaning in it, I sincerely invite you to support this project.

Original text: FC
Edited and proofreading: Shu Zhang

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