EchoLocation
Independent Project · 2026
Illustration | Graphic Design | Experiential Design | Product Design | Research | Branding | Fabrication
2 in 5 of us feel we're falling short. We're worried about not doing, being, or achieving enough. EchoLocation is a healing toolkit for those who fear falling behind, designed to invite them to slow down, rediscover self-trust, and embrace the messiness of life.
A solo BFA thesis project at Parsons. Eleven illustrated, interactive objects guided by Echo, a blue figure with jagged horns, the one constant across the entire toolkit. Every object designed, illustrated, written, fabricated, and produced by me. Exhibited at Parsons on 14 May 2025.
01 . Echo
Character Design | Illustration | Branding
Echo is a blue figure with jagged horns and googly eyes. Designed to be childlike, gentle, and a little chaotic. The jagged horns on its head reflect the mental noise.
Echo's Horns change in shape, visually expressing the idea that it’s okay to shift and to change direction. The color blue felt natural, as it represents the sadness that uncertainty brings to stage “feeling blue”.
I named the character Echo because these thoughts repeat and grow louder over time, mirroring how internal pressure can loop endlessly in your mind. Echo appears across all eleven objects as the quiet guide through the toolkit.
Photography by Marc Parroquin
Process Book Spread
Process Book Spread
02 . The Research
Interview | Research
The project began by asking my friends how they feel. Their answers regarding shame, exhaustion, and the invisible timeline shaped everything that followed. I also interviewed Patricia Murphy, a licensed therapist with over 15 years of experience, who affirmed that uncertainty is not failure but a sign of growth. The research moved from conversations to published work on productivity anxiety and self-worth.
Process Book,
Research Spreads
03 . The Toolkit
Product Design| Book Making | Packaging Design | Illustration | Graphic Design | Fabrication
Photography by Marc Parroquin
36 questions to ask yourself. sourced through the therapist interview with Patricia Murphy, secondary research, and personal reflection. Illustrated on Procreated and laid out and typeset in InDesign
A zine about the shared feeling of overwhelm, written and illustrated by me. Work piles up. Clutter takes over. But zoom out, and the dots start to connect. The jacket carries the same idea: the picture is already there, even when you can't see it. Illustrated on Procreate, laid out and typeset in InDesign, and hand-bound using saddle stitch.
An invitation to try things without the pressure of getting them right. List what you want to explore, record how it felt. This journal is about reminding people that trying is valuable in itself, even when the outcome isn’t what they hoped for. Laid out and typeset in InDesign
A maze full of creatures, all wandering, all unsure of where they're headed. We all feel lost sometimes. Illustrated in Procreate, printed on fabric, hung on the wall as a reminder that being lost is something we all share. Can you spot Echo?
When everything feels like too much, the first thing to do is breathe. Echo as a candle — ocean scented, sculpted into a custom wax mould. Light it, slow down, and breathe. Packaging designed in Illustrator, with a window cut-out so Echo is visible before you even open it.
Eight colouring pages for moments when life feels flat. Illustrated in Procreate, printed on bristol sheets, packaged with custom colour pencils.
A 12 page sticker booklet. Illustrated in Procreate, laid out in Illustrator, hand-bound using Japanese bookbinding. Featuring illustrations and objects from across the EchoLocation world so you can carry the toolkit with you wherever you go.
A repurposed hourglass, imagined as part of Echo's world. Horns sculpted in air-dry clay, googly eyes added above them, base painted off-white. An invitation to intentionally do nothing for 30 minutes.
Divided into three sections: The Lies, The Reminders, and The Strategies. Content drawn from the therapist interview, mental health resources, and me. Designed in InDesign, spiral-bound.
25 affirmations researched, written, printed, hand-cut with an X-Acto knife, rolled into scrolls, and tied with jute twine. One jar filled by me, one left empty for you to fill. The packaging has a cut away at the front so both jars are visible at a glance.
20 weeks. One space per day to write something — anything. A reflective question at the end of each week. Bound with yarn. A daily archive of small wins, designed to show you that you are already doing more than enough.
04 . The Cabinet
Woodworking | Laser Cutting | Fabrication | Design
The cabinet that holds the toolkit was designed and built. It was measured in Illustrator to scale, cut on the table saw in the woodshop, assembled with wood glue and clamps. Painted in Echo's blue across multiple coats, brush on the inside, roller on the outer panels.
The horns on top reflect Echo's character, they were prototyped first in paper, then cut in translucent acrylic on the laser cutter and assembled with acrylic glue.
Process Book Spread
Process Book Spread
05 . The Exhibition
Experiential Design
Exhibited at Parsons, 14 May 2025. Visitors could interact with every object — flip through the booklet, pull affirmation scrolls from the jar, colour a page, turn the hourglass. The toolkit was incomplete without any interaction.