Memocrane
A Speculative Product Concept Design for Grieving and Healing
Memocrane is an innovative product that combines traditional Chinese and Japanese cultural elements with advanced technology to create an emotional support system for individuals grieving the loss of a loved one. This speculative design aims to facilitate the process of remembering, letting go, and moving on from grief.
When
Skills
Concept
Speculative design
Interaction
Storytelling
Autumn, 2022
Tools
Figma
Storyboarder
Photoshop
Midjourney
Context
When I started this project for my Design User Experience Master Course, I was working on a design that focused on creating an experience of isolation through various interactions and artefacts, aiming to embody emotions related to the prevailing events at the time. However, everything changed during a supervision session when I received a call from my mom. Her voice was calm, but I could sense the devastation as she informed me of my grandmother's passing
I remember sitting in the university hallway for half an hour, talking to my mom, trying to process the news. This was the first time I had lost someone so close to me. While I had experienced the loss of other grandparents, I had never been as close to them, nor had I had the opportunity to bond with them as I had with my grandmother. I felt lost, unsure of what to feel, how to handle it, and what was going to change. I wondered if there was something I could do to help myself and my mom cope with the emotions we were experiencing.
It was at that moment that I decided to shift the direction of my project. I wanted to create a design that could help people like my mom and I process our grief. I felt a deep desire to develop something meaningful and therapeutic, allowing us to navigate the complex emotions that come with losing a loved one.
This led me to the conception of the Memocrane project, born from my personal journey and motivated by the hope of providing solace to others who are grieving.
Design Challenges
1. Dealing with Grief
Dealing with grief is always a delicate subject. Even though different studies have categorised that people go through 7 different stages of emotions while grieving, when, where, how and whether one will go through them is a complete mystery.
2. Tangibilise the process
Tangibilising the process of letting go and other aspects involving creating tangible representations and interactions that allow users to physically engage with the experience of grief, memory, and healing.
Ideation
Paper plane
Holographic memory
Inspirations
MDA & User Study
Once I had gathered inspiration from various cultural sources, I started considering how to transform these inspirations into a cohesive product. I wanted to ensure that each interaction would evoke different emotions in the user, so I decided to create an MDA (Mechanics, Dynamics, and Aesthetics) model. To gain initial insights and better understand user reactions, I conducted a quick user study with friends and family. I asked them to write down a piece of memory on a piece of paper and fold it into an origami crane. This approach helped me to bridge the gap between the inspiration and user study sections of my portfolio, enabling me to develop a more empathetic and effective design for the Memocrane project.
MDA Model
User Study
Final Prototypes
As I moved into the final prototype stage of my Memocrane project, I decided to use some prompt-generated images to illustrate the concept and create a short video. To achieve this, I sketched a stick-figure storyboard to help visualise the Memocrane experience. While I may not be an expert in sketching and drawing, I did my best to convey the essence of the design. Additionally, I designed a brochure to provide further information about the product. This approach provided me with a tangible way to showcase my concept and allowed me to share the story behind Memocrane in a visually engaging manner for my portfolio.
The best way to remember someone might not be a picture or a video but to put them deep inside your heart.
記住一個人最好的方式，可能，不是一張相片或一段視頻，
而是，把他們，放在内心深處。
Brochure
Story board
Reflection
Reflecting on my Memocrane project, I can't help but acknowledge the struggles I faced and the deeply personal connection it has to my late grandmother, who served as one of the inspirations behind the design. Throughout the process, I've learned so much about the importance of embracing cultural elements, the power of storytelling, and how it has helped me grow as a designer. This project has been a journey of self-discovery, both in terms of my design skills and my ability to transform personal experiences into meaningful and empathetic products. As I move forward, I will carry the lessons learned from this project and continue to seek out ways to create impactful designs that resonate with users on an emotional level.
“The best way to remember someone might not be a picture or a video but to put them deep inside your heart.”
— Memocrane