The ReDD Project (Reduce Digital Distraction) is a research-based initiative founded at the University of Oxford by Ulrik Lyngs and Maureen Freed. Its goal is to help students, educators, and professionals regain control over their digital attention by combining psychology, neuroscience, and human-computer interaction research with practical workshops and design tools.
# Purpose ReDD addresses the growing challenge of the **attention economy**, where apps and platforms compete for time and engagement. The project aims to teach digital self-regulation skills, reduce distraction, and encourage intentional technology use rather than reactive habits. Participants learn to: - Reflect on their digital behaviors and triggers - Experiment with evidence-based digital self-control tools - Redesign their notification, feed, and screen environments - Commit to small, sustained changes that protect focus
# Origins ReDD grew out of Ulrik Lyngs’ DPhil research at Oxford’s Department of Computer Science on *design patterns for digital self-control*. The first workshop was piloted in 2019 with Oxford students, and quickly expanded across departments and universities. Maureen Freed, a psychotherapist and former Deputy Head of the Oxford University Counselling Service, co-developed the facilitation model.
# Structure ReDD offers: - **Workshops** — 1–2 hour sessions such as *ReDD Workshop* and *ReDD Crunch Time* - **Facilitator Training** — a certified program enabling universities and organizations to deliver ReDD internally - **Toolkits** — curated digital self-control apps and browser extensions based on research data
# Evidence and Impact Early evaluations show strong outcomes: - Participants report up to **58% improvement in focus** and saving **1.5+ hours per day** of productive time - Follow-up studies found a measurable rise in self-control and well-being scores - The project won the **2024 MPLS Early-Career Social Impact Award** at Oxford for its real-world contribution The program has since been adopted by universities including Oxford, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Warwick, and Sheffield Hallam, as well as several international institutions.
# Philosophical Basis ReDD is rooted in the idea that distraction is not a personal failure but a design challenge. By combining mindfulness, cognitive psychology, and user experience design, the project reframes attention as a **shared cognitive commons**—something that can be protected through awareness, intentional practice, and supportive environments.
# Key People - Ulrik Lyngs — Research Fellow, University of Oxford - Maureen Freed — Psychotherapist and educator - Collaborators include Nigel Shadbolt, Kai Lukoff, Petr Slovák, and Laura Alessandretti
# Sources
- redd-project.org 
- linkedin.com
- cs.ox.ac.uk
# See