Amber Ingle
This project presents a realistic miniature diorama reimagining Westport, Ireland, where the God of the Forests, awakens beneath the Doris Brothers Bridge. Rooted in Norse mythology, the scene captures his violent return as nature’s forgotten guardian, emerging from a dried riverbed to confront humanity’s environmental destruction. The 1:30 scale model features lasor-cut buildings, a 3D printed bridge, and a wearable silicone glove of the giant’s hand made to fit my own. A mountainous backdrop sets the scene. Designed as an opening TV sequence, this miniature foreshadows the looming threat to the town and hints at the story’s unfolding events.
The primary objective of this project is to create a visually striking and narrative rich miniature set that immerses viewers in a mythological tale of environmental collapse. By re-imagining West port through the lens of Norse mythology, Yggdrasil, a divine life force centered within the Norse spiritual cosmos. The diorama aims to highlight the consequences of human greed and ecological neglect. The central figure symbolizes nature’s wrath—his emergence serves as a powerful visual metaphor for the imbalance caused by deforestation, pollution, and disregard for wildlife.
Technically, the project focuses on creating a variety of elements each made using different technical processes. Incorporating laser-cut town houses for structural precision, the 3D bridge for organic realism, and a meticulously textured giant’s hand, cast from my own, to convey a tactile connection to the natural world. The dried riverbed and mountainous backdrop establish a somber, cinematic atmosphere that enhances the foreshadowing of the show’s themes.
The project aims to deliver a detailed, visually immersive miniature diorama that functions both as a standalone art piece in the exhibition and as a dynamic visual for screen. The final outcome will effectively foreshadow the central narrative of environmental collapse and forgotten mythologies reawakening in response to human actions.
Additionally, the project will showcase the successful integration of mythological symbolism with real-world locations, transforming Westport into a visual metaphor for global environmental issues. The dried riverbed, fractured bridge, and the emerging god of the forests will serve as visual storytelling tools to engage viewers emotionally and intellectually.
The final miniature will be exhibited as part of an industry presentation, providing a professional-quality visual asset for potential use in TV or film production, while also serving as a strong portfolio piece that demonstrates my abilities in world-building, practical effects, and narrative-driven set design.
Focusing on contemporary woodworkers in Japan and Ireland, this thesis explores how the tree symbolizes a connection to nature, tradition, and sustainability, highlighting the efforts made to preserve age old practices in a modern world that is overcome with industrialization and consumerism. For this research paper I investigated the philosophies of David Pye, William Morris, George Nakashima, Mihaly Csikszentsmihalyi, and more. This will be to help contextualize key concepts such as the Workmanship of Risk/Certainty, The Revival of Handicrafts, The Soul of the Tree, and Flow Theory, how these are linked in the world of craft across the world.
To explore this further I centrered the tree as both a material and a metaphor of sorts, with the aim of this study being to highlight the relevance of traditional craft in the face of industrialization and mass production. The end goal of this thesis research is to answer why, in an age where efficiency often takes preference over preservation, that certain people choose to honor old traditions and the soul of the materials they work with.
I used case studies and conduct interviews where possible of contemporary artisans from cultures who are both different but quite similar all the same. This will illustrate how woodworking artists can act as a bridge between the past and the future, framing and informing us of more sustainable practices and the instinctive human desire to create with intention and respect.
Growing up I always had an interest in how things were made, it fascinated me how we could take our imagination and bring it to life, developing a passion for making and storytelling from a young age. This hands-on background sparked my interests in sculpture, painting, prosthetics, makeup, and 3D miniatures. Initially focused on makeup within TV and film, I discovered model making through my course and became inspired by how versatile it was. I enjoy exploring varied techniques that also connect back to my passion for prosthetics. My goal is to combine model making skills with future experiences in makeup and effects, while showcasing my abilities across different creative fields to open diverse career opportunities.
