Time Capsule

Andy Warhol, Time Capsule 262, courtesy of The Andy Warhol Museum
Andy Warhol, Time Capsule 262, courtesy of The Andy Warhol Museum

 

Part 1 

If today you were asked to choose some items to safely store in a time capsule, what would you choose? Imagine you have something the size of a shoe box, what things would you want to hide for a future self or a future inhabitant of this planet? 

Include audio narration or written commentary, using your smart phone or video camera or any other tool you are familiar with and have access to and post the explanation to your process website. Be sure to include a short narration (written or audio) talking about what each item is and why you chose it. 

Part 2

After you have thought about the contents of your Time Capsule, think about what you would actually like your Time Capsule to look like. What, if any, should its interface be? Spend some time sketching out (as roughly as you want) what aesthetic, interface, materials, shape, details, wording, etc. your Time Capsule needs to have. Paper prototype one out of cardboard, or flat paper, anything easy just to give a clearer idea to your audience. Receive training in Maker Space. 

This is an opportunity to become acquainted with the laser cutter and other digital fabrication tools, and to exercise your ideation skills. Digital fabrication tools are a great way to rapid prototype something. Make a couple of versions of your Time Capsule taking advantage of different materials and different prototyping tools. 

Similarly to your explanation of its contents, talk a bit about your design choices and why, either in a written paragraph or audio narration. 

Part 3 

Fast forward 126 years into the future… It’s the year 2145 and the current inhabitants of what was once known as Earth, just made a shocking discovery: your time capsule. What do you think will happen once your time capsule is unearthed, many many years from now? What will the inhabitants do or think? 

Tell the story In a six-frame comic book sequence (or storyboarding if you prefer). Feel free to play with different media, color vs. black/white, different tools and techniques. 

Document the assignment on your process site.