Constructing The Intangible

Conceptual Illustration for K3NTIV3

Constructing the Intangible explores memory as a process of reconstruction rather than preservation. Inspired by the ephemeral scent of childhood pomelo flowers, the work employs architectural elements such as cranes, grids, and misaligned stairs to visualize the structure of recollection. Memory is presented as an active act of assembling fragments of the past to construct present identity. Through a restrained structural language, the piece transforms an intangible sensory experience into a visible spatial form.

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Constructing the Intangible by Yuanying He

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Conceptual Illustration by Yuanying He

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Yuanying He Constructing the Intangible

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Yuanying He Conceptual Illustration

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Constructing The Intangible Conceptual Illustration Press Releases

Our Constructing The Intangible press releases are ready in languages: English, for your convenience.

Unique Properties

Constructing the Intangible explores the architecture of memory. This artwork examines how sensory fragments, specifically the ephemeral scent of the past, are reorganized. Memory is presented not as static preservation, but as an active secondary rendering shaped by narrative coherence. Utilizing a structural language bridging nature and architecture, the design transforms intangible sensory experiences into visible forms. Past fragments serve as scaffolding to support selfhood.

Tags

memory reconstruction, olfactory memory, architectural metaphor, narrative identity, secondary construction, spatial abstraction, sensory memory, autobiographical memory

Production Technology

The artwork was created using digital illustration techniques. A structured grid-based composition system was applied to organize spatial elements. Layered vector and raster rendering methods were combined to achieve depth and architectural precision. The visual system references drafting language and construction schematics to reinforce the conceptual framework.

Design Challenge

The primary challenge was translating an invisible and ephemeral sensory experience into a coherent spatial structure. The work avoids literal representation of scent and instead constructs a layered architectural system to express memory reconstruction. Balancing structural precision with emotional ambiguity required careful control of composition, grid systems, and visual hierarchy.

Project Duration

The project was conceptualized and completed in February 2026 in Shenzhen, China.

Operation Flow

The viewer engages with the artwork through visual navigation. Misaligned staircases, cranes, and grid structures guide the eye toward a central focal point, mirroring the cognitive process of memory reconstruction. The interaction is interpretive rather than functional, inviting reflection rather than instruction.

Research

This project explores autobiographical memory reconstruction through visual metaphor. Drawing from narrative identity theory and cognitive psychology, it investigates how memory is not a fixed recording but an active reconstruction shaped by perception and storytelling. Olfactory memory, particularly childhood scent associations, serves as an anchoring mechanism to translate intangible sensory recall into spatial and architectural language.

Inspiration

The inspiration originated from a simple observation: describing a dream after waking is already an act of secondary representation and reconstruction. The cool scent of pomelo blossoms from childhood serves as a sensory anchor. This fleeting memory is deconstructed into an orderly “construction site”. Cranes, grids, and misaligned staircases symbolize the subtle imperfections and ongoing rebuilding inherent in human recollection.

Image Credits

All visual elements, illustrations, and conceptual content in this project are original works created solely by the artist. No third-party materials, stock images, templates, or external visual assets were used in the creation of this work.

Project Overview

Constructing The Intangible Conceptual Illustration has been a Iron winner in the Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design award category in the year 2025 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.

Iron Recognition

Yuanying He was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2026, a testament to excellence of their work Constructing The Intangible Conceptual Illustration.

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Visual Designer Yuanying He Wins the Iron A' Design Award in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design for Constructing The Intangible

Constructing The Intangible views memory as reconstruction rather than preservation. Inspired by pomelo flowers, it uses architectural elements to transform intangible sensory experiences into visible spatial structures.

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