Brief
Design a device that enables two-way communication between two entities (human-to-human, human-to-object,
human-to-animal, or object-to-object). Your device should not just pass a message directly but transform it
in a way that makes it understandable to the recipient, who may otherwise struggle to interpret the original
form. In other words, it must be translated.
Project Description
Messages in a Bottle is an art installation that reimagines the age-old tradition of maritime message-sharing,
transforming anonymous storytelling into a captivating phy-digital experience. Individuals can share their
deepest secrets or messages through an online platform, and these messages appear on an OLED screen inside a
carefully crafted bottle. Everytime someone picks up the bottle, the message changes and a blue light appears
as feedback for the viewer.
These bottles, placed in public spaces to be discovered serendipitously, spark wonder and create a silent
dialogue between sender and reader. Contributors can anonymously share their stories and feel the thrill of
putting a secret out into the world. They see how many people engage with their narratives through an online
counter, bridging personal vulnerability with human connection.
The project explores profound human themes: vulnerability, trust, and the universal need to connect. Each
discovered message becomes part of a larger tapestry of shared human experience, celebrating the power of
collective storytelling.
