Technological innovation through the decades

Celebrating the 120 year anniversary of ESME, a french engineering school.

Technological innovation through the decades

1. Initial concept

  • A visual timeline (1905–2025)
  • One image per year or per step
  • Each image represents a research/engineering environment of that era
  • Central space reserved for year text overlay

2. Key constraints defined

  • Style: Symmetrical, cinematic composition inspired by Wes Anderson
  • Format: Fixed aspect ratio (first 4:3, later 16:9 for some series)
  • No embedded text in generated images (to control typography externally)
  • Consistency across images (framing, lighting logic, composition)

3. Domain refinement

  • Focus narrowed to:
    • Electrical engineering
    • Electronics
    • Mechanical engineering
  • Context anchored in France
  • Shift from generic “labs” → realistic R&D environments

4. Granularity increase

  • From decade-based prompts → year-by-year prompts
  • Then refined further into:
    • Full lab scenes
    • Then workbench close-ups (more visually consistent and controllable)

5. Alternating structure (1980–1995)

  • Even years → Mechanical engineering workbench
  • Odd years → Electronics engineering workbench
  • Ensures:
    • Visual rhythm
    • Conceptual contrast
    • Coverage of both domains

6. Prompt design pattern (standardized)

Each prompt follows a stable structure:

  1. Header: year + lab type + France + high-tech context
  2. Composition: “perfectly symmetrical, cinematic”
  3. Subject: workbench close-up
  4. Objects: era-accurate tools/components
  5. Materials & textures: metal, PCB, cables, etc.
  6. Lighting: cool fluorescent (era-consistent)
  7. Color palette: muted industrial tones
  8. Constraint: center left open for text overlay

7. Historical accuracy layer

  • Tools and equipment evolve with time:
    • 1980 → analog instruments, discrete components
    • Late 80s → digital oscilloscopes, microprocessors
    • Early 90s → microcontrollers, more integrated systems
  • Mechanical side mirrors:
    • Manual precision tools → CNC / actuator-era components

8. Typography handled separately

  • You removed text from prompts
  • Defined era-appropriate fonts by decade
  • Enables consistent, controlled post-production overlay

9. Output formats prepared

  • Prompts usable directly in image generators (Gemini / Neo Banana)
  • Structured to be exportable as:
    • CSV (Year, Type, Prompt)
    • Batch generation pipelines