2023: Upward Bound Trip – Harvard and Le Macaron
Just before leaving the Boston area, we made a quick trip to Harvard Square and Harvard University. The campus was bustling as preparations were underway for a graduation ceremony, making the atmosphere lively but a bit chaotic. Unfortunately, I only captured videos of the area and forgot to take photos. To make up for it, I decided to create an intricate graphic of the Harvard seal.
The Harvard University seal is one of the most recognizable academic symbols, featuring the Latin word “Veritas,” meaning “truth,” displayed across three open books. Adopted in 1643, the design reflects Harvard’s commitment to knowledge, learning, and intellectual pursuit. The books are said to represent disciplines of study and the ongoing search for truth through education. Additionally, the placement of the books—two facing upward and one downward—is often interpreted as a balance between revealed and discovered knowledge, symbolizing both divine and human understanding. The simplicity and elegance of the seal continue to embody the enduring legacy of Harvard’s scholarly mission.
The design process was quite involved, but I was able to upload the seal into Cricut Design Space and recreate it in four different colors. The project took about four hours to design, cut, and assemble, and I’m very pleased with how it turned out.
The other side of the spread highlights Le Macaron French Pastries, a charming little shop in Harvard Square just outside the campus. I couldn’t resist their wide variety of flavors and ended up ordering about eight macarons, which I eagerly enjoyed. I thought the juxtaposition of the academic Harvard theme and the fun, colorful macarons was a delightful contrast for this spread. To tie everything together, I chose a pink theme to reflect the pastries, while incorporating maroon to honor Harvard’s colors.
The macarons were also designed in Cricut Design Space and cut out using my Cricut Maker. The macaron menu is featured on the right-hand page, but I adhered it down, so the reverse side showing all the flavors isn’t visible. In hindsight, this may not have been the best decision, but I wasn’t sure how to display it in a way that allowed for easy viewing. If you really need to see all of their amazing flavors you can find them HERE.
To add a final touch, I carefully saved the circle sticker from the bag of my macaron order and incorporated it at the top of the page. I’m thrilled with how this spread captures the duality of our visit—a mix of serious academia and sweet indulgence.
To watch this spread being put together (Don’t worry I created the Harvard Seal ahead of time), click on the video below:
Categories: 2023, Upward Bound Trip 2023
MASCrapping 