Reimagining The Narrative
My inspiration came from an unexpected pairing: the refined, iconic luxury of Tiffany & Co. and the gritty, everyday reality of scrounging urban rats. Cities are celebrated for their energy, culture, and ambition, yet these creatures that navigate their hidden corners are often seen as symbols of filth or chaos. I became fascinated with that tension. What happens when you place something dismissed or disliked into a context of luxury?
Design Intent & Impact
This project began with a simple idea: to explore packaging through an unconventional decorative object. Being drawn to the challenge of exhibiting the conventional ideas of rats in an unconventional way, I set out to transform something that is often seen as unpleasant, into decor. The result is a mouse trap reimagined as an a piece of elevated design—designed with the elegance, polish, and restraint of high-end jewelry packaging. By pairing Tiffany’s elevated aesthetic with the form of a street rat, I sought out to honor the overlooked parts of urban life: the scavenging persistence of hidden ecosystems that thrive in the glamour of busy cities.
In its own way, this project acts as a small tribute to city environments. It reframes struggle, survival, and resourcefulness as qualities worthy of admiration. By framing this object and placing looked over animals on pedestal, I’m placing the city’s underbelly in the spotlight by inviting the viewer to see beauty where they least expect it.
