Dopamine synthesis x Printed Circuit
This seemingly technical layout, reminiscent of a computer motherboard, is in fact the stylised transcription of a portion of the chemical pathway for dopamine synthesis—the neurochemical responsible for reward, motivation and compulsion. The lines and nodes retrace not an electronic signal, but the molecular construction of desire itself.
Beyond biology, this representation highlights how platforms and tech companies have appropriated these neurological circuits. Notification systems in mobile apps have been deliberately engineered to trigger short-term dopamine bursts—designed for immediate satisfaction rather than sustained happiness. The goal is not long-term fulfilment, but repeated engagement, dependence, loops.
Here, chemical formula, interface mechanics and business objectives intersect. If equations could be drawn between dopamine synthesis, tech giants’ retention models, and UX designs exploiting human vulnerability, this piece would be their visual map. What remains of autonomy when emotions are systematically stimulated for profit?