Designing the Future with Modular Architecture Models
In my Visual Design Systems course at the Savannah College of Art & Design, I set out to explore something I’ve been fascinated by but haven’t yet worked with directly: architecture. As someone pursuing a degree in graphic design and aspiring to earn a master’s degree in themed entertainment design, I wanted to challenge myself with creating architectural models rooted in immersive storytelling.
My inspiration came from two of Disney’s most iconic spaces: Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom and Spaceship Earth at EPCOT. Both are steeped in futuristic vision and experimental design, and they embody the spirit of what I wanted to capture: structures that feel at once imaginative, forward-thinking, and immersive.
At the heart of my project was the creation of a modular design system. Instead of designing one standalone model, I was tasked with creating a system that could generate multiple architectural structures while maintaining visual cohesion. That means all of the pieces used in the creation of my models had to be the exact same shape. This approach reflects the way theme park design often works: individual buildings, attractions, and set pieces must feel unified within a larger story world.
Each of my modules was based on a triangular unit. But these weren’t flat triangles. Each piece was made of three smaller triangles raised in the center, giving them a distinct three-dimensional form. This shape was, of course, inspired by the triangles that make up Spaceship Earth. I hand-measured, cut, and hot glued each piece, producing almost 150 individual modules that I could use across five different models. After I built my models, to enhance their futuristic aesthetic, I spray painted all of them in metallic silver, a finish that further tied the pieces to my Tomorrowland and EPCOT inspired vision.
The modular approach offered several key strengths:
Cohesion: Since every model was built from the same base units, all of the structures felt related, like they belonged in the same immersive world.
Expandability: The system allowed me to experiment with different combinations, expanding or contracting shapes depending on the design I envisioned.
Structural stability: The flat edges of the triangles provided strong points of connection, which helped the models stand upright and lock together as architectural forms.
In the context of real-world themed entertainment design, these are valuable traits. Structures need to be sturdy, adaptable, and unified in style. This system made all three possible.
Of course, working within a strict modular system came with challenges. Since all of my modules were triangular and raised in the center:
I could not create perfect squares or flat planes.
I was limited in circular or curved forms, as the geometry of the pieces resisted smooth roundness.
Surfaces could never be fully flat, which restricted certain architectural expressions.
But rather than seeing these limitations as drawbacks, I embraced them as part of the aesthetic. The resulting designs had unique textures and dimensionality that felt futuristic and visually dynamic.
In the end, I created five unique architectural models, each distinct but unified through the modular system. Together, they suggested the beginnings of a futuristic themed entertainment space—structures that could be scaled up as functional theme park environments or scaled down as pieces in an art exhibit.
This project reaffirmed my passion for themed entertainment design. By using a modular system, I learned how cohesive parts can create a compelling whole, how constraints can spark creativity, and how architecture can become an integral part of storytelling.
The process was hands-on, time-consuming, and deeply rewarding, and I am incredibly pleased with the outcome.
