The inspiration for this project stems from my love of collecting objects from nature—sea shells, stones, magnets, and especially geographical photos. During my travels, I would often take pictures of landscapes from the window of an airplane, capturing the beauty of the earth from above. In college, while doing site research, I spent hours exploring Google Maps and saving screenshots of unique land formations. One of my favorite discoveries was the heart-shaped lakes scattered across the globe. I found these natural wonders incredibly romantic and felt compelled to share their beauty with someone 125 years later, reflecting on the fleeting yet timeless wonders of nature and how those places may have changed over time.

Phase 1: Conceptualizing the Time Capsule Story

From the beginning, I wanted the time capsule to tell a profound story of connection between past, present, and future. The central idea was to capture heart-shaped lakes—nature’s love letters to the Earth—and preserve them in a way that future generations could rediscover and appreciate.

I envisioned the time capsule as a gift to the future, preserving not only physical items but also emotions, memories, and the hope that these natural wonders would remain untouched.

Phase 2: Accordion Book Design

With the concept solidified, I moved on to creating sketches of the accordion book, which would be the main vehicle for presenting the heart-shaped lakes. I wanted the book to fold out like a story

1. Shape and Format: I chose an accordion format because it allows the book to be displayed in multiple ways—folded up for compactness or stretched out to display all the lakes at once.
2. Geographical Layers: The outline of each lake was traced, then amplified, to create a geographical layer for each place.
3. Box Design: The final design element was the Cornell-inspired box to hold the accordion book. I wanted the book to feel like a precious object—a keepsake of nature’s wonders. The box was designed with sections for each book. and the overall look mimicked a chocolate box.

Phase 3: Constructing the Book and Exploring Materials

1. Laser-Cut Panels: I used a laser cutter to create precise, layered cutouts of each heart-shaped lake.