MEMORY
CAPSULES
2024
RISD MID 2026
Insructors: Jess Brown & Peter Yadon
materials: unknown
Before smartphones and digital records, memories
were preserved through oral storytelling—filtered by
emotion, significance, and the natural limitations of
human memory. These retellings, shaped by the
storyteller’s perspective, conveyed the essence of
moments, transforming and adapting with each
recounting. Memories were alive, dynamic, and
personal.
In the digital age, we rely less on our internal
memory. Every moment, meaningful or trivial, is
stored externally—photos, notes, and videos—
without the natural filtering of time. Unlike the
curated memory boxes of the past, holding only
treasured artifacts, our devices collect countless
images and recordings, often forgotten and
overwhelming.
Project “Memory capsules” introduces five sensory
artifacts—taste, smell, hearing, touch, and sight.
Each serves as a tool for memory collection,
encouraging users to step away from digital habits.
Instead of defaulting to photos or videos, individuals
decide which sense best captures a memory and
use the corresponding artifact. This process promotes
mindfulness and a deeper connection to the moment.
Sharing these sensory-based memories invites others
to interpret them in their own way, sparking new
conversations and perspectives.
Note: Each capsule can store only one memory, which it holds forever, no matter how many times the memory is released
How do they work?Sight:
Capturing most beautiul moment of the day
Look
through the
artifact’s small hole and rotate to
absorb the visuals of a memory.
Tiny insight bubbles capture these
visuals. To release the captured
sight, look through another hole where the visuals are
presented in the form of miniature universes,
encapsulating the memory.
Hearing:
My favorite sound of the winter season
Place the artifact in
your ear and tap your fingers to
capture surrounding sounds. To
release the sound, rotate the
object and listen through its
larger radius.
Smell:
Dad captures the memory of his new born child
Rotate the artifact to
capture a specific scent. To release
the captured smell, shake or tap the
artifact, allowing the scent to be
released back into the air.
Taste:
Capturing taste of the worst childhood soup
Use the
taste-capturing spoon to gather the
f
lavor of anything that touches its
handle . To release the taste, try to
eat something with this spoon, the
f
lavor will change with the first bite.
Touch:
My friend captures her cat’s fur
Brush the artifact over
a texture to capture its feel in a
transparent bowl. To release the
captured texture, place your finger
in the center of the bowl to
experience the memory of the
texture.