A Universe in a Box

This learning experience invites each participant to create their own "Universe in a Box", a space where personal narratives, poetic imagery, and creative coding come together. This box acts as both a physical and digital vessel, containing the fragments of their imagination, emotions, and experiences. Through the fusion of aesthetic exploration, tinkering, and computational expression, participants shape abstract ideas into interactive poetic worlds. Each participant crafts their own box, decorating it artistically and embedding a mobile device or tablet —transforming it into an interactive space where stories unfold and emotions take form.

The box is more than just a container —it is a metaphor for how we hold, structure, and transform our inner universe. It represents the boundary between inside and outside, reality and imagination, offering both structure and infinite possibilities for storytelling. When a box is opened, it is always an act of revelation —unveiling a story, a memory, or a secret, much like the unfolding of a narrative itself.

By combining traditional artistic materials with digital tools such as Scratch and OctoStudio, participants breathe life into their creations, making them move, respond, and evolve through code. Their boxes might take the form of a 'Box for Conversations I Never Had with My Grandmother', a 'Box for When I Feel Afraid', or a 'Box for Whispering to the Stars', each reflecting a deeply personal exploration of memories, desires, or abstract concepts.

Objectives of the Workshop

• Explore the poetic and symbolic power of the box as a storytelling medium, understanding how a simple container can encapsulate complex ideas, emotions, and personal narratives, offering endless creative possibilities.

• Learn techniques of visual poetry, narrative construction, and digital interactivity, discovering how to blend words, images, and movement to craft compelling, multi-layered stories that resonate deeply.

• Learn how to use creative coding as a form of self-expression, developing both technical and critical thinking skills to convey emotions, stories, and reflections through digital interactivity.

• Cultivate an awareness of beauty, training our sensitivity to aesthetics and the emotional impact of artistic composition in both physical and digital mediums.

• Develop a conscious approach to technology, using it as a purposeful tool for creation and meaningful storytelling, rather than just passive consumption.

The Making of a Universe in a Box: workshop phases

Phase 1: Introduction & Concept Exploration

The workshop begins with an introduction to its philosophy, inviting participants to reflect on the poetic and symbolic potential of a box as a storytelling device. Through examples from visual poetry, conceptual art, and digital storytelling, they explore how a simple container can encapsulate emotions, memories, and abstract ideas. A group discussion encourages them to consider the kinds of stories, feelings, and concepts that a box might hold, setting the stage for their creative process.

Phase 2: Story Development & Visual Design

Each participant selects a theme or personal narrative for their “Universe in a Box”, shaping the essence of their story. Through sketching and brainstorming, they reflect on the core question: What story does my box tell? and explore ways to represent it visually and symbolically. This phase introduces techniques of visual poetry, collage, and mixed media, encouraging experimentation with artistic composition to craft a compelling and aesthetically engaging design.

Phase 3: Building the Physical Box

With their narrative concept in mind, participants begin the hands-on construction of their box. They paint, assemble, and decorate, working with different materials to enhance the sensory and emotional depth of their creation. Light, textures, transparency, and hidden compartments become tools for storytelling, adding layers of meaning to their work. The act of shaping the box becomes a metaphorical process in itself, allowing them to materialize abstract ideas into a tangible, intimate space.

Phase 4: Digital Interaction & Coding

Participants are introduced to OctoStudio and Scratch, learning how to create digital interactions that enhance their storytelling. They experiment with motion, sound, and touch-based responses, coding simple yet expressive animations that bring their stories to life. This phase bridges traditional artistic techniques with creative coding, encouraging participants to see technology as a means of poetic expression rather than just a tool for function.

Phase 5: Bringing the Box to Life

Once the digital elements are developed, participants integrate a tablet or mobile device into their box, embedding their coded elements within the physical structure. Testing and refining the interactions, they explore how the interplay between digital and physical elements deepens the emotional resonance of their piece. Their Universe in a Box now becomes a hybrid space, where tangible materials and interactive digital elements coexist, creating a layered and immersive storytelling experience.

Phase 6: Presentation & Reflection

The workshop culminates in a collective sharing session where each participant unveils their Universe in a Box to the group. This final moment is one of revelation, as boxes are opened to expose the stories within. Participants reflect on their creative journey, discussing their inspirations, challenges, and discoveries. The session concludes with a conversation about the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling, encouraging participants to continue exploring new ways to express their narratives through both physical and digital means.

Example: A box for returning to India (watch the video).

The idea of this workshop was partially inspired by the activity “Cajas de salvamento” by Manuel Moranta.