Psyche Inspired: Madelaine T. Vu

Madelaine Vu Headshot

Institution: Arizona State University

Major: Neuroscience and Psychology

Psyche Inspired Class: 2024-2025

Reflections on Psyche Inspired

Reflections on Project 1: Made with Love

This interactive artwork recreates NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, crafted from cardboard, wood, and hot glue. The base displays Psyche's vibrant brand colors—from dark purple to mustard—while the white spacecraft invites mission team members to leave their handprints, symbolizing the unity and dedication of those who brought the Psyche mission to life.

Made with Love

Madelaine T. Vu

December 2nd, 2024

Major: Neuroscience and Psychology

Genre/Medium: Wood and Cardboard

About the work:

When I first visited the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, one of the biggest things that stood out to me (both literally and metaphorically) was the Saturn V rocket. Just being there and walking around the massive rocket was such a breath-taking experience, but the main thing that really stuck with me was knowing that hundreds of thousands of people put their whole lives and careers into building that engineering masterpiece. Every detail, every calculation, every nut and bolt precisely put together by each of those hundreds of thousands of individuals. It is absolutely incredible. That is what inspires this project, “Made with Love.”

Seeing photos of the Psyche spacecraft development, from its large size to seeing all the various teams that put so much hard work into different aspects of Psyche, I wanted to commemorate every individual that worked on the project. My piece, “Made with Love”, is made with cardboard, hot glue, and wood (+ love!). The spacecraft is painted white, so that individuals that worked on the project can print their hands onto it to showcase all the individuals that put their hard work and love into Psyche.

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Reflections on Project 2: Journey to the Lost Metal World

Journey to the Lost Metal World shows a knight in Roman-inspired armor adorned with Psyche spacecraft details receiving a blessing—a kiss—from Psyche, the goddess. The textured digital artwork mimics a stone wall painting. Eerie black smoke creeps along the edges, revealing corrupted versions of the figures.

Journey to the Lost Metal World

Madelaine T. Vu

February 28th, 2025

Major: Neuroscience and Psychology

Genre/Medium: D&D One-Shot Adventure, Digital art

About the work:

“Journey to the Lost Metal World” began as a collection of vague and fun ideas blending Roman armor with elements of the Psyche spacecraft. It started with drafts of a painting that depicted Psyche, the goddess, blessing a knight wearing armor inspired by both concepts.

While exploring ideas for the armor, I was inspired by Mary Pyrdol’s Psyche Inspired piece, “Psyche Metal Pins”, which featured intricate metal brooches that resonated with my vision. This inspiration led to the creation of a corrupted version of the Psyche-inspired armor.

Collaborating with Cameron Sacra, this initial concept evolved into an elaborate world filled with collectible artifacts and a final boss–a corrupted version of the Psyche goddess herself, slowly consuming the world.

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Reflections on Project 3: Psyche Greeting Cards

The first card says, "Thank you for lighting up my world", and showcases the Psyche spacecraft warmly smiling at the sun. The second card says, "I can't wait to see you!", and showcases the Psyche spacecraft very excited as it hovers above the Psyche asteroid. The final card says, "Thanks to you, I would not have made it this far!" and shows the Psyche spacecraft flybying Mars.

Psyche Greeting Cards

Madelaine T. Vu

March 26th, 2025

Major: Neuroscience and Psychology

Genre/Medium: Digital

About the work:

For this project, I wanted to make some cute and simple greeting cards of the Psyche spacecraft. This was first inspired when one of our speakers mentioned how Psyche’s solar panels always points towards the sun. I made a small doodle of Psyche smiling towards the sun, thankful for its light. I wanted to play into the fun ways Psyche would exhibit its gratitude and excitement it experiences throughout its journey if it could.

Sometimes you just need to send someone a cute little card expressing little moments of positivity.

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Reflections on Project 4: Psyche’s Touch

Psyche's Touch is a small plaster asteroid fits in your hand. Raised ripples radiate out like waves in water from the hand print underneath. This sculpture captures a moment of touch echoing outward, like a quiet ripple through space.

Psyche’s Touch

Madelaine T. Vu

Major: Neuroscience and Psychology

Genre/Medium: Collage

About the work:

Psyche’s Touch was inspired by the spirit of human exploration within the Psyche mission. I wanted to capture something beyond the study of a planetary core, but our innate desire to reach outward, to discover, to connect, and to be a part of something greater.

The piece began as a 3D printed model of the Psyche asteroid, which I modified using clay to create rippling waves that radiate from a handprint on the underside. These waves echo the idea that even a single touch can send energy outward, like curiosity or inspiration spreading through space and time.

I designed this piece to be held. It nestles into the palm, inviting quiet reflection and tactile connection. My hope is that when someone holds it, they feel a link not only to the asteroid and its mysteries but also to the mission, its people, and its soul.

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The Psyche badge with no words on it.

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