No.2
[Future Minerals]
Future geology discovered through scientific inquiry
This project set out to imagine what future geologists might discover if they unearthed the remnants of today’s technology thousands of years from now. Inspired by our passion for microscopic detail, this project visualises a speculative geological layer, where discarded electronics, transformed by intense heat and pressure, give rise to intricate techno-minerals and synthetic artefacts, each still flickering with the digital echoes of their legacy systems.
Landscape
[Surface Expanse]
[01] Monochrome landscapes, within which a multitude of strata await discovery
To ground the concept, we had to define where this material could be found. We designed vast landscapes below which future geological strata layers ladder down through the ages. Exploring these dark, compressed environments sets the stage for unearthing materials that feel both dystopian and precious.
Strata
[A Geological Survey]
[02] Subtle hints of colour and crystalline highlights amongst the heavyweight layers of rock
We explored a variety of ways to represent the minerals within the environment. We designed dense strata stacks and glowing seams of colour to subtly hint at their presence, allowing the synthetic elements to naturally emerge from the compressed natural layers of rock.
[03] Designing strata through layering behaviours and geological references
[04] Positioning hero mineral layers whilst considering relationships with the rock formations around them
[05] Cores, samples and specimens ground the project in the visual language of geological surveying
[06] Digitally activated objects treated as physical extractions, demonstrating the idea of them being buried deep within the earth
Minerals
[Discovery + Extraction]
Once identified, we began to examine the findings in detail, their materiality, surface textures and interactions with light. Colour and iridescence emerged, echoing the qualities of liquid-crystal displays and semiconductor surfaces. The colours of microscopic technology appeared as sheets of new, light-reactive material.
[01] Showcasing intricate details with AI-driven camerawork and rigorously testing shot-to-shot consistency
[02] Striking a balance between familiar formations and impossibly complex structures gives each mineral its unique feel
By treating these digitally activated objects as physical extractions, we illustrated the concept of technological strata buried deep within the earth, reinforcing the narrative of a discovery made through scientific investigation.
[Future Minerals]
Metals, quartzite, and silicon fused with digital technology are imagined as an indelible layer in Earth’s history, prompting new ideas about materiality and what we leave behind.
