Henry invents the Kitten Paw Hat, a device that fosters heart-to-brain intelligence and cultivates self-love.

Images: top: Adult Life Lab set (Turku, Finland) bottom: www.heartmath.org

Overview

Adult Life Lab is a multidisciplinary project blending a short film, art installations, and community events to creatively tackle the everyday challenges of adulthood. Involving over 100 participants from Finland to the U.S., the project centers on the tale of Henry and his friends, who invent whimsical solutions to ease the drudgery of adult life.

Central Story

Meet Henry, who has never entirely adjusted to adult life. He finds solace in the company of three co-workers who share the same challenges. Together, they form a behind the-scenes 'laboratory' that invents mostly failing devices to solve their adulting problems, but all they need is one to succeed. The friends’ solutions—like a noise canceling sweater, a giant claw to wake up, or business gear with a calming stuffed animal— eventually tap into heart intelligence, revealing the power of creativity and self-awareness in becoming an adult.

Artist Bio

I'm an artist, filmmaker, and former academic who turned 20 years of notebook inventions into a collaborative project—blending a love for DIY learning with friends and the creative process to explore new skills and concepts around adulthood—more info: www.everydayfuturistic.com

Key Features

  • Art & Video Installations:
    Exhibits in Pittsburgh, PA, Rome, GA, and Safety Harbor, FL, where audiences become researchers, interacting with inventions and adulting challenges.

  • Community Engagement:
    Dressing Up Our Dreams photo series at the Spires Retirement Community (GA), where retirees dress as who they were expected to be versus who they dreamed of becoming.

  • Collaborative Craftsmanship:
    Partnerships with prop makers like Felter Ullrike by Anki, Turku Hacklab, and Magic Film Academy, bring the inventions to life.

  • Educational & Global Participation:
    Students from Berry College, Georgia Highlands College, and Chatham University contributed to the filming. Zoom footage from participants worldwide adds diverse perspectives.

  • Heart-Based Intelligence & Scientific Connection:
    With 400 scientific studies showing the 'heart-brain' connection and that 400 repetitions—or just 10-20 with play—create new neural connections, our project explores how creativity, collaboration, and playful inventions can enhance well-being and problem-solving. (HeartMath.com)

Images: top: Turku Hacklab bottom: Ketchup City Creative, Pittsburgh, PA Come 'guess the invention' or 'name the adulting challenge' revealed in our video installations.

Collaborative Opportunities

We thrive on creativity and collaboration. Whether you're interested in prop-building, video installations, heart-based intelligence, or simply sharing your unique perspective, join us! No professional experience is required—just a passion for exploring how we can all get through adulthood with more fun and kindness. Contact Us: Email: info@everydayfuturistic.com Learn more: www.adultlifelab.com Top: Just like Henry’s fictional lab, real adults invent in our growing ‘adulting’ lab. Image: Zoom, Adult Life Lab Bottom: The Adult Life Lab film crew (Turku, Finland) Image: Kari Kylänpää