OFFLINE IS THE NEW LUXURY

After years designing digital products, Monika Lubiatowska decided to switch off.

She created Człowiek.studio — a phone-free creative space in Poznań where people come to make things, meet strangers and remember what hanging out felt like before every spare second involved a screen.

The crafts? They’re almost an excuse.

The real point is connection.

Why create a place where people are asked to put their phones away?

I’m addicted to my phone too — I can admit that. I created Człowiek so we can learn how to simply be without our phones again.

Our attention spans are getting shorter, and changing habits is much easier when we do it together.

When did you realise we’d forgotten how to spend time together?

I noticed it even with friends. A conversation suddenly becomes, “Wait, let me show you something.” Then you notice a notification and, before you know it, everyone is looking at their phones.

Social media also tricks us into feeling like we’ve caught up with people. We know what they’re doing, so we forget to actually meet them.

Człowiek looks like a craft studio. But what is it really about?

Crafts are an excuse to meet.

As children, we create constantly. Then somewhere along the way we grow up and decide we’re “not creative”. That simply isn’t true.

The goal is to slow down, regain our focus and connect with other people. We need collective entertainment that feels almost like a ritual.

Phones at the door: panic or relief?

At first? Panic!

People instinctively reach for their phones during conversations. But after a while, it stops.

It’s amazing how quickly we adjust and forget that we supposedly “need” them.

There’s hope for us all.

Do strangers actually start talking to each other?

Absolutely.

Sitting together and making something gives people a natural reason to talk, ask questions and help each other.

Quite often they discover they even have mutual friends.

Poznań is very small.

What’s the strangest thing anyone has made?

At our opening, we created one huge collage together. My favourite part was a photograph of a cat framed inside an edible candy watch.

My mum once made ornaments from rice paper.

Basically, anything goes.

Are we losing the ability to be bored?

Definitely.

I’ll put on a podcast for every little task or grab my phone the second I have to wait for something.

But boredom is where ideas and self-awareness can emerge.

I’m trying to experience it again.

If you could delete one app from everyone’s phone?

I’m not that radical!

Delete whichever app takes the most time while giving you the least back.

For me?

Instagram.

Give Poznań Daily readers one offline challenge.

For one day, leave your phone in one place at home.

Treat it like an old-school landline. If you need it, go to it — don’t carry it around with you.

At the end of the day, see how you feel.

And maybe more importantly…

see how much time you suddenly have.

ONE LAST THING…

You’ll probably finish reading this article and instinctively reach for your phone.

Maybe you’re already holding it.

So here’s the deal:

PUT IT DOWN.

Go make something.
Meet someone.
Get bored.
Have a conversation that nobody photographs.

And if that sounds strangely difficult…

Monika might be onto something.

Człowiek.studio × POZNAŃ DAILY
OFFLINE IS THE NEW LUXURY.