Crafting a Bespoke Control Box Inspired by Ursula K Le Guin's Ansible for 'A Larger Reality' Exhibition

We recently had a very interesting project to make a bespoke control box commissioned for the 'A Larger Reality' exhibition in Oregon, celebrating the work of American science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin. The project involved designing and building a physical control box that matched the literary invention known as "The Ansible," a communication device featured in Le Guin’s novels.

The customer required an authentic 'control box that would be capable of housing a working display screen, and the goal was to create a seamless, authentic experience that would captivate visitors at the exhibition.

The finished product: from inception to working display

Understanding The Ansible and Its Significance

Ursula K. Le Guin introduced The Ansible as a fictional device capable of instantaneous communication across vast distances. This concept fascinated readers and became a symbol of connection in her science fiction universe. For the exhibition, the control box needed to reflect the essence of The Ansible, combining retro-futuristic design with functional elements that would engage viewers.

The design brief emphasized authenticity. The box had to look like it belonged in Le Guin’s world, with tactile controls, indicator lights, and a screen that displayed messages or animations related to the device’s fictional operation. The customer’s working display screen was a key component, and the box had to integrate it seamlessly.

Design Process Challenges

From the start the customer had a clear idea of where they wanted to go with the design the size, the style and which elements they wanted to incorporate, which really helped the process. From the customers initial ideas we communicated back and forth over many digital rendering of each side of the control box to help visualize the layout of switches, dials, and buttons.

One of the challenges was taking the design from what were wall mounted panels to a 3 dimensional box that could be viewed in the round. This was achieved by using an inner box and then adding the separate side panels to it. Also to ensure durability I used spray paints that I know from experience would be hard wearing and durable.

A crucial part of the design was the cut out placement for the customer supplied iPad display screen. We had to ensure that not only was the hole the correct size to hide the iPad bezel but also that there was enough room in all directions to fit the screen in what was a fairly tightly constrained box. Also we would need to consider a simple way to access the rear without breaking the illusion of an alien box, which was achieved by leaving a simple disguised round hole at the rear.

The design process from initial contact to shipping toom about 2 months in total, but it was worth taking the time to iron out all the details to ensure the customer got what they wanted.

Building the Control Box

The control box was laser cut using one of our powerful HPC lasers and was constructed around a finger jointed MDF inner box to ensure a solid rigidity but ensuring that I took into account the details which had to pass through the whole design such as the screen cut out, a hole for cable management and the finger pull for access.

Each face then had a panel cut which was individually spray painted in various futuristic colours before being glued to the main box. The layers then had a plethora of 3D details, dials, cable coils, acrylic buttons, dials & screens added to complete the effect.

An in progress shot from our workshop showing the inner box structure with some of the details added

Display and Impact at 'A Larger Reality' Exhibition

The completed control box was shipped to Oregon and installed at the Oregon Contemporary venue for the 'A Larger Reality' exhibition. It stood alongside other works celebrating Le Guin’s legacy, drawing attention from fans and newcomers alike.

Visitors could interact with the control box, watching the screen display messages that referenced The Ansible’s fictional capabilities.

The project demonstrated how thoughtful design and craftsmanship can transform a literary idea into a tangible object that sparks imagination and curiosity.

The Control box in the bottom corner displayed at the 'A Larger Reality' exhibition with surrounding artwork

Bringing Fiction to Life Through Design

This bespoke control box project highlights the power of design to connect storytelling and physical experience. By carefully interpreting Ursula K. Le Guin’s vision and collaborating closely with the customer, the final product became more than a display piece. It became a functional homage to a literary invention that continues to inspire in Le Guin’s works.

For anyone interested in creating a custom Sci-fi design object just drop us a message on our website and we would be happy to discuss a potential project with you

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