Flammarion Engraving. Unknown Artist.
“As above, so below”
When you look up at a starry sky, how do you feel? Does it inspire you with wonder, or are we confronted with the sudden reality of infinity?
As above, so below – this hermetic principle reveals a profound truth about the universe, and our relationship to it. From the largest galaxies to microscopic atoms, patterns follow the natural laws.
Closer to home, we navigate our personal universes with the same intuitive grace. Our living spaces, workplaces, and communities are their own solar systems, with objects and relationships naturally orbiting our daily lives.
What if our digital spaces could feel this natural? What if technology could mirror the elegant organization of the cosmos itself?
Our digital workspaces have become cluttered galaxies of disconnected tools and fragmented information, yet we understand space instinctively. This insight led me to Cosmic Canvas - an interface that doesn't just organize information, but allows it to flow and cluster naturally, like stars forming constellations of meaning.
Platform Manifesto
System Architecture
Instead of files and folders, Cosmic Canvas uses celestial metaphors.
A Moment in Time
When Haley, an interior designer, steps into her Cosmic Canvas, the universe of her work materializes around her. Her AI assistant, appearing as a gentle constellation of light points, welcomes her into the space. Small volumetric spheres representing active client communications and pending material approvals orbit at the periphery of her view, their urgency reflected in their proximity and luminosity.
In front of her, a brilliant solar system represents the Santa Cruz Mountain residence project. The central star - a glowing volumetric sphere - contains the project's core brief and vision. Orbiting this center in elegant elliptical paths are key project elements:
The 3D Sketchup model rotates as a detailed volumetric planet
Client communications flow as a ring of interconnected windows
The materials palette shimmers as a cluster of interactive samples
Timeline and milestones form an outer belt of chronological markers
As she focuses on the project, she's gently pulled into its gravitational field. The AI highlights a recent ripple in the communication orbit - a morning message from Francis McClure, her client for this mountain residence project. His request about changing the living room's lounge chair creates a bright pulse in the project's communication stream.
Using temporal navigation, Haley reaches out and pulls this conversation thread closer, causing a beautiful spiral of temporal nodes to expand before her. Each glowing blue node represents a moment in time where the living room furnishings were discussed - from the earliest conceptual meetings to today's message. A shimmering line threads through these nodes, connecting all chair-related communications across time: excited early discussions about style direction, detailed material selections, refinements in comfort requirements, and even passing comments during site visits.
As she moves closer to recent nodes, they expand naturally, revealing more detail, while distant nodes maintain their place in the historical spiral. She can see how Francis's preferences have evolved over time, creating a clear pattern of decision-making that informs today's request.
This discovery illuminates a deeper pattern, as the AI creates a bridge between two project spaces. A new volumetric window shimmers into existence, revealing a parallel project - a recent home in the Soquel Hills with remarkably similar patterns. The temporal spirals from both projects align in mesmerizing synchronicity, showing not just similar material preferences, but parallel client journeys in their decision-making processes about living spaces. Both projects share a desire for that perfect balance of coastal influence and mountain serenity.
The AI expands this connection into actionable insights, forming a new constellation between the projects. Each node pulses with relevant data: successful vendor collaborations, material combinations that exceeded expectations, and spatial solutions that elegantly addressed similar challenges. The temporal threads show how both clients' tastes evolved through their projects, particularly in their approach to blending indoor comfort with dramatic natural views.
With fluid gestures, Haley expands key nodes where successful material combinations and furniture selections proved particularly effective. She pulls this volumetric data into Francis's living room model, and the space transforms, showing how these proven elements could adapt to his mountain residence. The AI adjusts for the specific context: the dramatic Santa Cruz mountain views, the unique quality of coastal light, and the particular requirements of elevation and climate.
This cosmic dance of information has transformed a routine client request into an opportunity for design evolution. The AI quietly begins composing a response to Francis, weaving together visual evidence, temporal data, and a clear narrative that connects past successes to future possibilities - all experienced through Haley's intuitive flow through space and time…
Acknowledgements
