DE216N

DM-GY 6053 B Ideation & Prototyping | Assignment 4 Time Capsule Part 1, 2

Overview

This project is a personal journey to capture my memories. I’ve chosen meaningful objects linked to past adventures and will preserve them in a luggage-shaped time capsule, a creative way to celebrate both the items and the stories they hold.

The name of my time capsule is DE216N. It comes from my professor Dan Cuffaro’s observation that Cleveland’s area code, 216, fits neatly into the word design. Since my design journey began at the Cleveland Institute of Art, this playful twist felt like the perfect way to connect my Cleveland roots with the creative spirit that shaped me.

Inspiration

I created the moodboard for my time capsule design. I’d like to make an unique opening process, such as a pop-up book, to describe a story in a colorful occasion.

Ideation

I explored several travel-themed box designs, from planes to handbags, before choosing a vintage luggage box. Inside, I built an immersive paper scene inspired by my hometown, Suzhou, China, blending its traditional garden design to celebrate my roots and a cherished moment there.

Paper Prototype

I crafted numerous paper prototypes to refine the design of the pop-up elements within the box.

Visual Design

To capture the spirit of Suzhou’s traditional gardens, I drew inspiration from carving artist Jinshi Cai. Using laser cutting, I translated these intricate designs onto colorful paper, bringing the architecture and landscape to life.

Prototype

In Chinese art, “white space” symbolizes balance, simplicity, and imagination, especially in water scenes where negative space suggests depth and fluidity. I used this idea to shape the water in my time capsule, adding duckweed to reflect life’s changes and a boat to represent my journey toward future dreams.

Inside the box, I placed objects that capture my travels: colorful tapes for journaling, crochet projects to fill long flights, Cookie Ann as my travel companion, and Daim chocolate as a sweet reminder of comfort and inspiration along the way.

Reflection

Designing this time capsule was both enriching and transformative. Guided by the theme of capturing inspiration from my travels, I carefully shaped the capsule’s form, materials, and contents to tell my story.

Through paper prototypes and experiments with texture and color, the design evolved into a cohesive piece that reflects my journeys and creative process. The goal was to create not just an object, but an experience, that invites future discoverers to connect with my memories and imagination.

This project reminded me of the power of thoughtful design to preserve moments, spark reflection, and carry stories forward.