RESEARCH
WHAT IS THE 16 PSYCHE MISSION?
The 16 Psyche mission is a NASA-led journey to a metal-rich asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter. Believed to be the exposed core of an early planet, Psyche may hold clues to how rocky planets like Earth formed.
WHAT WAS MYMISSION?
I began by researching NASA’s 16 Psyche mission to understand its goals, trajectory, and public relevance. I chose to focus on a specific phase of the journey: the spacecraft’s entry into the asteroid belt. This lesser-known moment offered rich potential for visual storytelling and audience engagement.Rather than present static data, I conceptualized an interactive experience that invites users to "travel through space" and collect asteroids neighboring Psyche. This approach transforms scientific information into an imaginative, educational encounter, helping the public connect more personally with the mission
bOOK
dESIGN
A COMPANION PIECE
Cosmic Connections is a comprehensive visual and written archive of my senior capstone project. It explores our emotional relationship to space exploration through speculative storytelling and interactive design. This book documents the full creative process, from early research and ideation to final execution. It includes pre-projects such as poster designs for the senior show and experimental circular clock compositions that tested narrative and branding in unconventional formats. Inside, you’ll find process sketches, visual systems, and thoughtful reflections that demonstrate not only what was designed, but the purpose behind each decision. It serves as both a portfolio piece and a record of creative growth.
MY FAVORITE SPREADS
SEE THE ENTIRE BOOK BY DOWNLOADING THE PDF BELOW!
rALLY
mATERIAL
TAKING PSYCHE HOME
To make the Cosmic Connections exhibit more interactive and rewarding, I designed a sticker rally experience inspired by collectible games and space exploration. Visitors received a themed sticker card with a decorative layout and clear instructions on how to participate. As they navigated the exhibit, they collected six custom-designed stickers. each representing a different asteroid neighboring Psyche.
This playful format encouraged movement, discovery, and engagement, turning educational content into a tactile, memorable experience
This playful format encouraged movement, discovery, and engagement, turning educational content into a tactile, memorable experience
VISITOR EXPERIENCE
As visitors entered the exhibit, they were invited to become space explorers on a mission of their own. Guided by the sticker rally card, they journeyed through the space, discovering hidden stickers representing asteroids orbiting near Psyche. Each discovery offered a moment of learning, interaction, and delight. By the end, participants had a fully completed card, a personal artifact of their journey through the asteroid belt.
the exhibit
IDEATION INTO REALITY
Each student’s exhibit was designed to communicate their unique interpretation of the 16 Psyche mission while accommodating multiple deliverables. The display needed to clearly explain the concept, showcase the full exhibit book, and present any supporting collateral. My setup featured custom sticker cards and collectible stickers, inviting visitors to interact with the space and engage with the material in a playful, memorable way.
REFLECTION
This project challenged me to think beyond aesthetics and approach design as a full sensory and educational experience. From researching NASA’s 16 Psyche mission to building an interactive exhibit, every step required a balance of creativity, clarity, and intention. I had to consider how to communicate complex information in a way that felt accessible, engaging, and meaningful, especially for student audiences.
Conceptualizing the experience from the ground up pushed my skills in branding, editorial design, and physical display. It also taught me how to collaborate across disciplines and adapt my ideas to real-world constraints like accessibility and audience interaction. More than anything, this project reminded me of design’s power to spark curiosity and create connection, even with something as vast and distant as an asteroid.
Conceptualizing the experience from the ground up pushed my skills in branding, editorial design, and physical display. It also taught me how to collaborate across disciplines and adapt my ideas to real-world constraints like accessibility and audience interaction. More than anything, this project reminded me of design’s power to spark curiosity and create connection, even with something as vast and distant as an asteroid.