This is for the wood platform in the award. I used line to get the shape, then I played around some with edit poly and boolean to get one corner. I then copied it 3 times and connected the pieces with edit poly.
step 4 of 10
Here the 4 pieces are connected into one. Also added a table from a box and two cylinders to hold up the dna model.
step 5 of 10
The pencil is easy, a few cylinders and a box with bend modifier and some scaling.
step 6 of 10
I used lathe to get the cup shape, then made the handle in edit poly. I also put a turbosmooth modifier on it (not shown here).
step 7 of 10
I made this map in photoshop in just a minute or so.
step 8 of 10
This is the full scene seen with edge faces.
I also added a sign on the wood platform with a map (the text) as bump map on the metal plate.
step 9 of 10
I rendered a zdepth pass and used it in photoshop to create the blur.
step 10 of 10
I also render the image with ambient occlusion on. I combined this and the rendered image in photoshop to give it some nice shadows.