A shoebox diorama can be much more than just a miniature scene. It can be a creative display that really wows people. Here are some creative tips and suggestions on how to make your shoebox diorama really special.
Select a unique shell for your diorama
When making a shoebox diorama the first thing to do is think outside the box! I mean that literally because you don’t really have to use a shoebox to make your shoebox diorama. You can use any number of interesting containers to make a truly unique diorama case. But I recommend that you take this thinking to a second step and use something that adds a level of meaning to your diorama.
For example, if you are making a diorama about coffee plantations, you may want to use a large coffee can as the actual shell of the diorama. This adds a level of uniqueness that also adds meaning to your diorama. It gives people something to talk about. Think about what your diorama will be about, and then look for housing ideas. Another good example of this would be an ocean diorama. This is a very popular subject for a diorama and I made a diorama by hollowing out a styrofoam lobster trap buoy. It looks great and gives the whole diorama a very nautical feel. Of course, if you are going to make a diorama of a shoe store or shoe factory, a shoe box is perfect!
Tell a story or capture a moment in time
One of the best things about a diorama is that it can not only show a scene, but it can also tell a story by capturing a single moment in time. A good example of this is if you want to build a medieval diorama with a castle, you can put a dragon and a knight in battle. If you’re making an ocean diorama, you could capture the moment just before a big fish is about to gobble up a small fish. This tells a story. There is an event frozen in time and it gives your audience something to think about and questions to ask. What is happening in this diorama? What is going to happen next?
Explain something with the structure of the diorama
This is a bit more difficult to do, but can be the most rewarding aspect of creating dioramas. Think about how the structure or materials of the diorama can be used to explain the story or point you are trying to get across. A good example of this would be a rainforest diorama. The tropical rainforest has five layers from the top canopy to the ground layer. You could build your diorama in five different layers. In this way, the actual structure of the diorama helps to demonstrate what the real rainforest looks like.
A shoebox diorama can be a beautiful little facsimile of the real world and there are many ways to make it creative and special. All you have to do is think outside the shoebox!