PAYMENT

A self-directed project exploring the theme of nowness through the UK housing and cost of living crisis. The work investigates how financial instability shapes everyday life, using metaphor and mixed media to communicate the emotional weight of long-term debt and housing insecurity.

The central outcome is a speculative “time capsule” designed as a house-shaped lampshade, intended to hang for 100 years. This object represents the persistent pressure of financial burden, positioned as something that remains constantly present in daily life.

Contained within the time capsule are three interconnected outcomes: a poem, a publication, and a looping animation. Each explores the cyclical nature of financial struggle in different ways — from metaphorical language and visual narrative to immersive digital space. The animation, in particular, uses nested architectural forms to create an infinite loop, reflecting the ongoing experience of repayment and economic pressure.

By combining physical design, digital visualisation, and written narrative, the project positions design as a tool for both personal expression and social commentary.