Adam Haar Horowitz Engineers Sleep as a Creative Medium with MIT and Artist Collaborations

Adam Haar Horowitz, who leads DUST and has a background in cognitive science, views sleep as a space for creativity, especially during the hypnagogic phase. At MIT’s Fluid Interfaces Lab, he developed Dormio, a glove that detects when someone is falling asleep and offers sound prompts to enhance dream experiences through a technique called Targeted Dream Incubation, which can enhance creativity upon waking. Artists like Salvador Dalí and Thomas Edison have explored similar ideas. In 2024, his Dream Hotel series, created with artist Carsten Höller, will feature installations at Fondation Beyeler, Art Basel, and LUMA Arles, including a motorized bed and a mushroom replica. Additionally, he has projects like Boreal Dreams at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2025 and Cyber Key to Dreams at the V&A Museum, alongside his app DUST, aimed at improving dream recall and addressing insomnia.