Final Report Part 1: Design Deep Dive

Introduction

The core concept behind my final project is a layered laser-cut tree wall art piece with a hidden photo frame which is rooted in the intersection of natural aesthetics, digital fabrication, and sentimental storytelling. What initially began as a laser-cut experiment evolved into something deeply personal: a gift I will present to a scholarship foundation that has supported me throughout my college journey. As such, this piece had to be more than a decorative item. It needed to be symbolic, emotionally resonant, and professionally executed.

This blog post outlines the visual and conceptual inspirations, describes the artistic and functional goals, and walks through the design evolution, sketches, CAD drawings, and final fabrication plans. I also reflect on how my chosen aesthetic with its natural minimalism and a personal twist was brought to life through the design process.

Inspiration: Blending Nature and Storytelling

My primary visual inspiration came from a variety of laser-cut wood art pieces I discovered on design blogs, Pinterest, and Etsy. One of the earliest and most influential examples was a layered tree wall art featured on My Modern Met, which highlighted a piece made by artist @ArtGloDesign. This artwork used multiple laser-cut layers of birch plywood to form a forest scene, showcasing beautiful depth and precision through stacked cutouts. What struck me was the piece’s ability to feel warm and handmade while still being incredibly precise which is a balance I wanted to achieve in my own work.

I was also inspired by the detailed wood illustrations of Martin Tomsky, whose work can be found at martintomsky.com. Tomsky uses stacked layers of wood to create scenes full of motion, emotion, and texture. Though his work is more narrative-driven than my project, his control over negative space and contour helped guide how I built the tree silhouette.

 

On Etsy, I found multiple examples of tree silhouettes in minimalist wooden frames, like those sold by LayeredWood and DecoArtsStudio. Many of these products shared a clean, Scandinavian aesthetic, precisely laser-cut wood, neutral tones, and symmetry. I referenced these when refining the spacing between layers and deciding on color palette and stain levels.

Finally, the idea of embedding a photo behind the silhouette was inspired by shadow box art and layered light boxes like those seen at LightBoxGoodMan. These designs, which often use intricate papercutting or layered acrylic, use internal lighting or spatial design to reveal an unexpected visual layer. I adapted this technique, not with light, but with a hinged mechanism that reveals a hidden photograph—adding an emotional surprise for the viewer.

Project Vision: Function and Form

Functional Goals

The primary functions of my piece are:

1. Wall-mounted decorative art: It must be visually compelling from both close-up and afar.
2. Hidden interactive element: It houses a photo frame concealed behind the central portion of the design, accessible through a small hinge.
3. Durability and gift-worthiness: As the piece will be gifted to a scholarship foundation and displayed in a home, it must be stable, lasting, and professionally finished.

Form Goals

• Dimensions: Approximately 18”x24”, a manageable size for wall hanging.
• Materials: 1/8 in birch plywood for layered cuts, stained or sealed to preserve natural wood tone.
• Finish: Raw wood and black contrast which is clean and elegant.
• Frame: Self-contained wooden border integrated into the laser cut to eliminate the need for an external frame.

I developed these specs to ensure the piece was not only artistic but also functional and modular that allows for easy access to the photo without disrupting the visual flow.

Aesthetic Vision: Natural Minimalism with Sentiment

The aesthetic of this piece can be described as natural minimalism with an added layer of emotional storytelling. I was aiming for something timeless and simple in form but rich in symbolism.

Key Aesthetic Components:

• Nature-Inspired Imagery: A tree, symbolic of growth, connection, and support.
• Neutral Wood Tones: Evoke warmth and calmness.
• Laser-Cut Precision: Modern, clean lines for a balanced aesthetic.
• Interactive Surprise: The hidden photo frame adds a touch of playfulness and emotional engagement.

The aesthetic directly connects to its function as a gift, meant to represent both gratitude and growth. The tree growing outward over time is a metaphor for my own academic journey, rooted in the support from my scholarship foundation.

Sketches and Design Iteration

Initial Sketches

My early pencil sketches focused on layout: what shape of tree would create the most interesting negative space? How could the branches wrap around the hidden frame without revealing too much?

I explored both symmetrical and asymmetrical trees, as well as ways to balance density in the design—too many branches and it looked cluttered; too few, and the layers lacked impact. Ultimately, I sketched a semi-abstract deciduous tree, allowing flexibility for both bold shapes and finer laser-cut details.

Figure 3. Graphic Design

From Sketch to CAD

After scanning the sketch, I brought the vector outline into CorelDRAW for laser prep. In SolidWorks, I designed a basic 3D representation of the layers, spacing them to visualize depth. I used a five-layer system:

1. Tree silhouette foreground
2. Spacer frame
3. Hinge panel (with image cutout)
4. Backing board for structural support
5. Optional backplate to mount or access the hinge

Each layer had to align perfectly, so I embedded registration notches to ensure assembly precision. I also modeled the hinge in Fusion 360, running a basic simulation to make sure the door wouldn’t collide with any part of the outer frame when opened.

Final Design Plans

The finalized plans included:

• Cut paths for each wood layer
• Drill holes and mounting slots for hinge screws
• Tolerances adjusted for laser kerf (about 0.005” offset)
• Rendering in both wood grain and black/white contrast to test visual outcome

I prepared files for both a 18×24 inch version.

Embodiment of Aesthetic in Final Design

The final design embodies its aesthetic goal through:

• Layer depth: Each layer builds on the previous one, giving it a physical and metaphorical sense of growth.
• Minimal color palette: Natural wood contrasted with a dark-stained background adds visual drama without clutter.
• Clean edges: Laser-cut precision supports the modern, minimal tone.
• Hidden hinge and photo: The emotional surprise reinforces the storytelling aspect of the design.

Rather than being purely ornamental, the art becomes a narrative object, a quiet storyteller embedded in a clean form. The visual language is subtle, yet intentional, speaking to gratitude and the hidden roots of support behind every success.

Background Story: A Gift Rooted in Gratitude

While this project has always been about aesthetics, it is also deeply tied to my personal journey. The layered tree wall art is not just a final project, it’s a gift, meant for the scholarship foundation that supported me during my academic path. Their home in Lake Tahoe serves as a space that welcomes visiting scholars and donors, and I wanted to contribute something permanent, something symbolic, to that home.

The inspiration to include a hidden photo frame behind the tree came directly from this context. I wanted to give them more than a thank-you letter. I wanted to give them a living memory or a representation of the growth they helped cultivate, and the community they built around students like me.

Inside the hinged compartment, I will placed a black-and-white photo of me and the other scholars from our most recent gathering. It’s not immediately visible; it requires curiosity to discover. But once opened, the viewer sees the deeper narrative: beneath the layers of craftsmanship and form is a history of mentorship, generosity, and transformation. The tree, with its wide-reaching branches and grounded roots, mirrors how I view the foundation’s impact.

The setting of Lake Tahoe also influenced the natural, wooden aesthetic. The location’s natural beauty with its forests, tranquil atmosphere, and earthy tones guided my decision to use birch plywood, avoid artificial colors, and embrace grain texture. The piece is meant to belong there, in harmony with both the interior and the surrounding landscape.

This added personal layer gave the design new meaning. Every line I cut, every branch I placed, every layer I stacked, it all became a metaphor for the journey I’ve been on, shaped by support systems like this foundation. It reminded me that design doesn’t exist in isolation. It carries emotion, memory, and gratitude.

Conclusion

The layered tree wall art project is more than just a demonstration of laser-cutting technique. It is a physical representation of my personal journey, grounded in growth, support, and design. By blending inspiration from artists like Martin Tomsky and techniques adapted from Etsy shadowboxes and lightbox crafts, I developed a piece that merges precision engineering with emotional intention.

The process: from sketching, to CAD modeling, to prototyping, has allowed me to translate a conceptual idea into a polished, functional object. With a clean minimalist aesthetic and a hidden emotional layer, the final product is one I’m proud to gift and to showcase as a reflection of both my design values and the people who helped me grow.

Citations:

• My Modern Met – https://mymodernmet.com/wood-wall-art-layered-design/
• Martin Tomsky – https://martintomsky.com
• LayeredWood on Etsy – https://www.etsy.com/shop/LayeredWood
• DecoArtsStudio on Etsy – https://www.etsy.com/shop/DecoArtsStudio
• LightBoxGoodMan – https://lightboxgoodman.com