CTRL is a harm reduction app for any situation where substances are involved.
It helps people make safer choices before use, during use, and after. No preaching. Just clear support when it matters.
Andrei Frolov
Research · Product Concept · Visual & Brand Direction
Andrei Frolov
Research · Product Concept
Visual & Brand Direction
Arsen Malashchuk
Prototyping · Research · UI Design
IDEA
In Berlin, everyone has a story.
A friend overdosed. Someone mixed the wrong things. Someone got hurt because they did not have the right information when they needed it. This is not rare. It is everywhere. Stigma makes it worse. It isolates people in dangerous moments, keeps them quiet, and stops them from asking for help.
Fighting stigma is a core part of harm reduction.
IDEA
SCALE
SCALE
To better understand the scale of the issue we explored public health data on substance use in Europe.
83.4M people in the EU have tried illicit drugs at least once
83.4M people in the EU have tried illicit drugs at least once
~50% of drug-related deaths involve multiple substances
~50% of drug-related deaths involve multiple substances
3.5 substances mixed per night on average
3.5 substances mixed per night on average
The danger is real.
But the topic is still pushed aside because of shame, fear, and judgment. Sometimes that silence becomes part of the harm.
These patterns highlight
the need for accessible
harm-reduction tools and clear safety information.
RESEARCH
70+
surveys
8
interviews
RESEARCH
Public data showed the scale, but not how people actually deal with it. So we ran 8 in-person interviews and a survey with 70+ responses.
We wanted to understand how people make decisions, where they get information, and how much they really know about what they take.
INSIGHTS
INSIGHTS
FAST ANSWERS
People want to learn about risks.
But they need answers in a few taps, not a wall of text in the middle of a messy situation.
ANONYMOUS USE
Privacy came up again and again.
Many said they would only use a tool like this if they could stay anonymous.
NO JUDGMENT
Tone matters.
People need support that feels safe, human, and useful, not clinical or patronizing.
REAL SUPPORT
Interviewees did not ask only for information.
They also wanted practical help, especially testing kits and recovery support.
CTRL is shaped as a fast, anonymous support tool for real situations involving substances.
The most important tools stay open with no login. That means users can access help fast, stay private, and avoid friction when timing matters.
PERSONA
PERSONA
We created Luca based on patterns from our interviews and survey, so we could turn research findings into one clear user with real needs, habits, and pain points.
Meet Luca, 29
Meet
Luca, 29
Occupation:
Senior Creative
Motto:
“I’d rather know than guess.”
Bio:
Luca lives in Berlin and goes out often - raves, house parties, whatever the setting is.
He is social, curious, and generally careful, but decisions around substances still happen fast.
Traits:
Social, curious, careful
Needs:
Privacy, clarity, quick access
Occupation:
Senior Creative
Motto:
“I’d rather know than guess.”
Bio:
Luca lives in Berlin and goes out often:
raves, house parties, whatever the setting is.
He is social, curious, and generally
careful, but decisions around substances
still happen fast.
Traits:
Social, curious, careful
Needs:
Privacy, clarity, quick access
FEATURES
Mix Checker
Checks risky combinations in seconds. Built for moments when decisions happen fast.
AI Pill Recognition
Scans unknown pills and helps flag possible danger. Useful when the source is unclear and guessing is risky.
Journal
Lets users log what they took, how they felt, and what happened. Helps spot patterns and make safer choices over time.
Emergency button
A one-tap emergency widget for the lock screen that calls 112 fast.
Shop
A place to order practical harm reduction tools and recovery kits. Users can choose ready-made options or build their own.
OUTCOME
We hope CTRL can turn a topic that is widely stigmatized and pushed underground into something more accessible, trustworthy and useful.
The goal is simple: help people make safer choices, reduce harm, and feel less alone when they need support.
THANKS
Thank you and stay safe.
CTRL is a harm reduction app for any situation where substances are involved.
It helps people make safer choices before use, during use, and after. No preaching. Just clear support when it matters.
Andrei Frolov
Research · Product Concept · Visual & Brand Direction
Arsen Malashchuk
Prototyping · Research · UI Design
IDEA
The idea for CTRL emerged from experiences within nightlife communities. Many of us had seen situations where people struggled with substance use, sometimes leading to dangerous outcomes, including overdoses and deaths among people we personally knew. Despite how common these situations are the topic is often pushed aside because of stigma.
IDEA
SCALE
SCALE
To better understand the scale of the issue we explored public health data on substance use in Europe.
83.4M people in the EU have tried illicit drugs at least once
~50% of drug-related deaths involve multiple substances
3.5 substances mixed per night on average
The danger is real.
But the topic is still pushed aside because of shame, fear, and judgment. Sometimes that silence becomes part of the harm.
RESEARCH
70+
surveys
8
interviews
RESEARCH
Public data showed the scale, but not how people actually deal with it. So we ran 8 in-person interviews and a survey with 70+ responses.
We wanted to understand how people make decisions, where they get information, and how much they really know about what they take.
INSIGHTS
FAST ANSWERS
People want to learn about risks. But they need answers in a few taps, not a wall of text in the middle of a messy situation.
ANONYMOUS USE
Privacy came up again and again. Many said they would only use a tool like this if they could stay anonymous.
NO JUDGMENT
Tone matters. People need support that feels safe, human, and useful, not clinical or patronizing.
REAL SUPPORT
Interviewees did not ask only for information. They also wanted practical help, especially testing kits and recovery support.
CTRL is shaped as a fast, anonymous support tool for real situations involving substances.
The most important tools stay open with no login. That means users can access help fast, stay private, and avoid friction when timing matters.
PERSONA
PERSONA
We created Luca based on patterns from our interviews and survey, so we could turn research findings into one clear user with real needs, habits, and pain points.
Meet Luca, 29
Occupation:
Senior Creative
Motto:
“I’d rather know than guess.”
Bio:
Luca lives in Berlin and goes out often - raves, house parties, whatever the setting is.
He is social, curious, and generally careful, but decisions around substances still happen fast.
Traits:
Social, curious, careful
Needs:
Privacy, clarity, quick access
FEATURES
Mix Checker
Checks risky combinations in seconds. Built for moments when decisions happen fast.
AI Pill Recognition
Scans unknown pills and helps flag possible danger. Useful when the source is unclear and guessing is risky.
Journal
Lets users log what they took, how they felt, and what happened. Helps spot patterns and make safer choices over time.
Emergency button
A one-tap emergency widget for the lock screen that calls 112 fast.
Shop
A place to order practical harm reduction tools and recovery kits. Users can choose ready-made options or build their own.
OUTCOME
People rarely need more warnings, they need better tools and clearer information.
The goal is simple: help people make safer choices, reduce harm, and feel less alone when they need support.
THANKS
Thank you and stay safe.
CTRL is a harm reduction app for any situation where substances are involved.
It helps people make safer choices before use, during use, and after. No preaching. Just clear support when it matters.
Andrei Frolov
research · product concept • visual & brand direction
Arsen Malashchuk
prototyping · research • UI design
IDEA
The idea for CTRL emerged from experiences within nightlife communities. Many of us had seen situations where people struggled with substance use, sometimes leading to dangerous outcomes, including overdoses and deaths among people we personally knew. Despite how common these situations are the topic is often pushed aside because of stigma.
IDEA
SCALE
SCALE
To better understand the scale of the issue we explored public health data on substance use in Europe.
83.4M people in the EU have tried illicit drugs at least once
~50% of drug-related deaths involve multiple substances
3.5 substances mixed per night on average
The danger is real.
But the topic is still pushed aside because of shame, fear, and judgment. Sometimes that silence becomes part of the harm.
RESEARCH
70+
surveys
8
interviews
RESEARCH
Public data showed the scale, but not how people actually deal with it. So we ran 8 in-person interviews and a survey with 70+ responses.
We wanted to understand how people make decisions, where they get information, and how much they really know about what they take.
INSIGHTS
FAST ANSWERS
People want to learn about risks.
But they need answers in a few taps, not a wall of text in the middle of a messy situation.
ANONYMOUS USE
Privacy came up again and again.
Many said they would only use a tool like this if they could stay anonymous.
NO JUDGMENT
Tone matters.
People need support that feels safe, human, and useful, not clinical or patronizing.
REAL SUPPORT
Interviewees did not ask only for information.
They also wanted practical help, especially testing kits and recovery support.
CTRL is shaped as a fast, anonymous support tool for real situations involving substances.
The most important tools stay open with no login. That means users can access help fast, stay private, and avoid friction when timing matters.
PERSONA
PERSONA
We created Luca based on patterns from our interviews and survey, so we could turn research findings into one clear user with real needs, habits, and pain points.
Meet Luca, 29
Occupation:
Senior Creative
Motto:
“I’d rather know than guess.”
Bio:
Luca lives in Berlin and goes out often - raves, house parties, whatever the setting is.
He is social, curious, and generally careful, but decisions around substances still happen fast.
Traits:
Social, curious, careful
Needs:
Privacy, clarity, quick access
FEATURES
Mix Checker
Checks risky combinations in seconds. Built for moments when decisions happen fast.
AI Pill Recognition
Scans unknown pills and helps flag possible danger. Useful when the source is unclear and guessing is risky.
Journal
Lets users log what they took, how they felt, and what happened. Helps spot patterns and make safer choices over time.
Emergency button
A one-tap emergency widget for the lock screen that calls 112 fast.
Shop
A place to order practical harm reduction tools and recovery kits. Users can choose ready-made options or build their own.
OUTCOME
People rarely need more warnings, they need better tools and clearer information.
The goal is simple: help people make safer choices, reduce harm, and feel less alone when they need support.
THANKS