Continuing the PANEURAMA NXT GEN Innovation Lab Release Series with Pace Yourself
Our next release from the PANEURAMA NXT GEN Innovation Lab is here, and it’s a piece that speaks to the experience of habit, reflection, and breaking free. Created by five talented artists, Pace Yourself takes viewers into the everyday life of a man who takes another day of running on a treadmill in a small, enclosed gym – his world confined to grey walls, the hum of the treadmill, and the allure of a minigame on the screen.
This project is part of our series exploring “degrowth,” a theme set by our partnering NGO, Friends of the Earth Europe (read more), that encourages introspection on how we live, consume, and interact with our environment. In just two weeks, our 24 young professionals delved into this topic, translating complex ideas into engaging and thought-provoking videos. Among these came Pace Yourself by five talented artists.
Pace Yourself: A Journey from Habit to Harmony
The video opens with a sense of detachment – a character immersed in a monotonous, routine. Every step on the treadmill is just another point in a digital game, keeping the character in a cycle of extrinsic reward, going nowhere in a closed room. The scene is coated in shades of grey, emphasizing the robotic feel of his life – a life that has become more simulation than reality.
Conflict arises as the treadmill’s speed increases, pushing him beyond his comfort zone. Panic sets in as he struggles to keep up, his steps growing frantic. It’s a metaphor for reaching a breaking point when the reality of pushing oneself beyond limits is undeniable. Finally, the character takes control, cutting the treadmill’s power.
The film closes with a transformative moment. The grey gym fades, and the character steps outside into the open air, breathing freely as he runs among nature. It’s a release from habit into the harmony a green landscape provides – leaving the cage of routine for the vibrant world beyond.
Celebrating Creative Collaboration and Self-Discovery
Creating Pace Yourself in a two-week timeframe was a remarkable achievement for Niels Gram Riisgaard, Noam Keasar, Maja Bogdanienko, Shérine Kacmaz Balhaine, and Irene Houward. They combined thoughtful storytelling with visual metaphor, using simple settings and subtle colour transitions to capture the profound shift from isolation to connection with the world.
More Stories Ahead
We’re incredibly proud of the creativity and introspection this team brought to Pace Yourself, and we hope it resonates with you as much as it did with us. Keep an eye out as we continue sharing more of the PANEURAMA NXT GEN Lab series, showcasing the incredible work of our young professionals and their insights on the future of sustainability and self-growth.
Enjoy Pace Yourself and join us as we explore more narratives from the NXT GEN Innovation Lab!
A huge thank you to our Innovation Lab participants, mentors, partners, and the amazing team at Breda University of Applied Sciences for making the NXT GEN Lab an unforgettable experience!
