Artist Biography
Marisa Cardarelli is an emerging designer from New York, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture at Endicott College, where she will graduate in Spring 2026. Throughout her time at Endicott, she has completed multiple design internships, across New York and Massachusetts, gaining experience in multiple sectors of the industry, while also expanding her creative perspective that she has gained from her academic career at Endicott. From a young age, Marisa always had a passion for design, and creating impactful experiences for people to connect and engage with. Her creative work, both within interior architecture and beyond, has always been driven by the intention of creating special experiences. Her artistic background has fostered her interest in designing immersive environments that evoke emotion and encourage reflection and human connection.
Thesis Abstract
Mindscape is an immersive experience focused on human emotions and their relationship with mental health. Through a spatial journey inspired by the structure of the human brain, the project ultimately works towards challenging the widespread stigma surrounding mental health, and the act of seeking mental help for yourself. By integrating both traditional and nontraditional methods of therapy within the built environment, Mindscape encourages visitors to better understand the impact their emotions have on their mental well-being, and why it should not be overlooked. Through design elements such as environmental psychology, sense of place, and experiential design, the project explores how architecture can influence and evoke emotional states. The exhibits unfold as multi-sensory, sequential walkthroughs of the brain, where each exhibit represents a specific human emotion, such as, Happiness, Surprise, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Frustration. Visitors can explore how each emotion correlates with specific parts of the brain, making up our emotional mind, and in turn, influencing our mental health. In addition to individual reflection, community is also created and fostered within Mindscape’s communal spaces, and resource stations, creating opportunities for support, and shared understanding. Ultimately, the project explores architecture as a tool for emotional awareness, education, and healing, and personal growth, encouraging a more open and informed perspective on mental health within everyday life.