Project: Exterior Design Pt.2 WIP
This is a work in progress of the exterior design for my interior design project. Unlike my previous designs, this piece was entirely hand-drawn on 18x24 paper. It forms part of a personal narrative, similar to my earlier work. The design represents a magical treehouse set in the middle of a carnival, born from the imagination of a child. Over time, however, the treehouse has been abandoned as the child has grown older and moved on to more mature artistic endeavors. Now, in its dilapidated state, the treehouse is struggling to survive, clinging to the last remnants of the child’s fading creativity. To capture this, I wanted to infuse the design with a subtle, warm glow—a visual representation of the dying spark of childhood imagination and creativity. The glow emanates from the treehouse, offering a poignant contrast between the vibrancy of the past and the inevitable passage of time.
I had a lot of fun creating this design because it didn’t need to be entirely realistic—after all, a child’s imagination knows no boundaries. However, this limitless potential also became one of the biggest challenges. With no constraints to guide the design, I had the freedom to experiment, but it was also difficult to decide where to draw the line and how to keep the design grounded while still reflecting the whimsical nature of a child’s creativity. Balancing playfulness with structure was key, and I really enjoyed exploring this contrast throughout the process. Additionally, the design needed to convey an empty, eerie atmosphere, as the treehouse had been abandoned over time. The absence of life and the fading spark of creativity made it challenging to maintain a sense of wonder while also capturing the feeling of neglect and loss. Finding this balance of nostalgia and desolation was a unique aspect of the project that I really enjoyed tackling.
The concept phase progressed swiftly, as I focused primarily on the building's silhouette. My initial vision was to create a large, eclectic structure that felt like an amalgamation of items a child might dream of. I considered adding a roller coaster that would race through the space, but as the idea developed, it became too complex and overwhelming. Instead, I decided to adopt a more refined approach, incorporating a chair carousel at the top and a snack bar, which felt more in line with the atmosphere I wanted to convey. However, I soon realized that the design needed to reflect not a "new" version of this space, but a decaying one. Though I was tempted to add more elements to further flesh it out, I understood the importance of embracing the theme of deterioration. The space had to show signs of abandonment and wear. An essential narrative element I had to consider was that, despite the area being abandoned, someone still resides here. Over time, they’ve slowly rebuilt parts of the structure, but their focus has been more on scavenging and repurposing whatever materials they could find to create a habitable environment. This is why one of my inked sketches features a bus, and I experimented with large metal storage crates—these items symbolize the resourcefulness of the inhabitant and add an apocalyptic feel to the scene. After refining these ideas, I transitioned into working on the orthographic. I’m still undecided whether to finalize the design digitally or continue with traditional methods, but I’m incredibly proud of the progress I’ve made so far. This project has been a rewarding exploration of storytelling through space and design, and I’m excited to see how it will evolve in the final stages.