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Memory Capturing Photos
Memory Capturing Photos
A smart photo frame that helps you rediscover and relive meaningful memories buried in digital storage. The design intentionally keeps technology in the background, letting photos take center stage through a simple interface powered by voice and AI.
A smart photo frame that helps you rediscover and relive meaningful memories buried in digital storage. The design intentionally keeps technology in the background, letting photos take center stage through a simple interface powered by voice and AI.
Problem
Problem
As we accumulate more digital content than ever, memories stay buried in digital storage, waiting to be rediscovered. What if customers could better collect, rediscover and revive meaningful memories?
Details
My Role: Senior designer on team of 5
Duration: 4 months
Scope: Concept development, prototyping
Partners: Product, Senior Leadership, Designers, Research
Highlights
This is a frame for treasured memories, not another gadget cluttering your home.
The technology intentionally fades into the background so your photos take center stage.
This is a frame for treasured memories, not another gadget cluttering your home.
The technology intentionally fades into the background so your photos take center stage.
Early Explorations
Our team spent several days brainstorming concepts to solve this problem. We used targeted prompts to focus on specific scenarios. These early concepts evolved over time, and several influenced the final design.
Our team spent several days brainstorming concepts to solve this problem. We used targeted prompts to focus on specific scenarios. These early concepts evolved over time, and several influenced the final design.
Mid Fidelity
At this stage, I turned rough sketches into wireframe experiences. I explored a wide range of designs and features focused on helping customers capture and relive photo memories.
Then we had a realization: these designs felt overwhelming. The original problem was that memories get lost in the flood of photos on our phones. Our solutions were adding to that complexity instead of solving it. We needed to simplify.
At this stage, I turned rough sketches into wireframe experiences. I explored a wide range of designs and features focused on helping customers capture and relive photo memories.
Then we had a realization: these designs felt overwhelming. The original problem was that memories get lost in the flood of photos on our phones. Our solutions were adding to that complexity instead of solving it. We needed to simplify.
Interaction Model
The biggest challenge was intentionally keeping things simple. We didn't want to overcomplicate the experience. Instead, we leaned into making photos the hero.
The interface is minimal: three buttons at the top let you like, record a memory, or hide a photo. You can also use voice to ask for photos, add memories, or request details about what you're seeing.
The biggest challenge was intentionally keeping things simple. We didn't want to overcomplicate the experience. Instead, we leaned into making photos the hero.
The interface is minimal: three buttons at the top let you like, record a memory, or hide a photo. You can also use voice to ask for photos, add memories, or request details about what you're seeing.
Prototyping
I continued expanding my prototyping skills with ProtoPie. This prototype was one of the cleanest I've built: simple, dynamic, and fully functional. The screenshot below looks basic because content was housed outside the prototype itself.
It connects to ChatGPT to help capture memories and dynamically updates the content as you add more memories to that photo.
I continued expanding my prototyping skills with ProtoPie. This prototype was one of the cleanest I've built: simple, dynamic, and fully functional. The screenshot below looks basic because content was housed outside the prototype itself.
It connects to ChatGPT to help capture memories and dynamically updates the content as you add more memories to that photo.
Final Design
Simplicity is the name of the game. The goal was to make Photos the hero experience.
Users can interact with voice to alter the timeline, or add a memory to a photo.
The device only takes in voice but does not respond.
All videos are taking directly from the prototype I built in Protopie.
Simplicity is the name of the game. The goal was to make Photos the hero experience.
Users can interact with voice to alter the timeline, or add a memory to a photo.
The device only takes in voice but does not respond.
All videos are taking directly from the prototype I built in Protopie.
We intentionally selected a digital mat around the images to provide clear separation from interface elements. The transitions between photos were crafted to be clean and engaging, offering customers a preview of upcoming content while subtly signaling the option to explore the full timeline.
We intentionally selected a digital mat around the images to provide clear separation from interface elements. The transitions between photos were crafted to be clean and engaging, offering customers a preview of upcoming content while subtly signaling the option to explore the full timeline.
When activating Voice or pressing a button on the top of the device, the interface shifts into a discovery mode. In this state, the display presents the relevant button controls, the timeline, and any feedback associated with voice playback.
When activating Voice or pressing a button on the top of the device, the interface shifts into a discovery mode. In this state, the display presents the relevant button controls, the timeline, and any feedback associated with voice playback.
Using natural language, users can request an individual photo, such as one taken when a child was a specific age.
Using natural language, users can request an individual photo, such as one taken when a child was a specific age.
Users can ask for a specific trip, and the device will automatically gather all related photos and place them on the timeline.
Users can ask for a specific trip, and the device will automatically gather all related photos and place them on the timeline.
A dedicate button on the top devices allows the ability to Like a photo.
A dedicate button on the top devices allows the ability to Like a photo.
Photos often carry meaningful memories. The device provides a simple way to capture those memories by pressing and holding the center button. This activates the microphone, lets you record your reflection, and attaches it to the photo.
With ChatGPT, additional memories can be combined and summarized automatically.
Photos often carry meaningful memories. The device provides a simple way to capture those memories by pressing and holding the center button. This activates the microphone, lets you record your reflection, and attaches it to the photo. With ChatGPT, additional memories can be combined and summarized automatically.
Derek Burkhardsmeier 2025