UW MHCI+D Project
PastPresent
Speculative hologram device & mobile app, enabling long distance families to connect over shared memories in an immersive manner.
My Role
User Research
Interaction Design
Design Strategist
Timeline
Sep - Dec 2023
10 Weeks
Tools
Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro
Team
3 Designers
1 Researcher
My Contributions
As the lead Product Designer and UX Strategist, I spearheaded the team's efforts and timely execution of the entire end-to-end process, from crafting the research plan to early concept ideation to interaction design prototypes, ensuring adherence to a cohesive user-centred narrative.
Diary Study & User Interviews
Oversaw the design and flow of a 3-day physical diary study, co-created interview scripts, and conducted 3/6 user interviews.
User Storyboarding & Down-selection
Produced a series of storyboard concepts to help the team down-select early concepts.
User Journey Map
Led the design of the user journey map, articulating critical touch points, emotions, and key moments to set the stage for which areas to prototype.
Prototyping & User Testing
Co-developed low-fidelity prototypes for speculative device to test user flow and comprehension.
Interaction Design & Information Architecture
Partnered with 1 team member to design the digital screen and holographic-device interactions and UI, including gesture controls and IA.
Design System
Co-established the brand identity, including the name, typography, and color palette, and created final product renderings & videos.
Overview
Problem Space
In the U.S. today, many adults live geographically distant from their parents. Despite the prevalence of social media, maintaining these intergenerational bonds over long distances remains a persistent challenge.
Target Users
Adult children
Secondary Users
Aging parents
Opportunity
Intergenerational Bonding through Memory Sharing
Long-distance relationships between adults and their parents can be strengthened through the exchange of meaningful family memories, inspiring nostalgic conversations that bridge physical distances with emotional closeness.
PastPresent is an immersive memory-sharing device that enables families to reminisce over old memories in order to deepen their emotional ties.
Solution
PastPresent
Create a speculative holographic device that enables geographically dispersed families to foster and strengthen deep and joyful connections through interactive memory exploration.
Part 1
Mobile App for Memory Uploading & Easy Onboarding
Adult Child
Initial Onboarding
Parent
Device Pairing
Past Present App Onboarding Process
Part 2
Hologram Device for Immersive Memory Sharing
Inspired by family photo albums, PastPresent breathes new life into cherished memories through holographic embodiment and curating a collection of media for families to relive together.
07
Surprise memory indicator
08
Select a memory
09
Conversation over shared memory
10
Revisit previous conversations
Past Present allows users to simultaneously open their devices together and select from a surprise carousel of holographic memories, sparking a shared conversation about the experience.
Research
Background
From our initial desk research, we discovered that nearly 1 in 10 adult children has their nearest parent living very far away from them, i.e. more than 5000 miles (1). This is due to the increased migration of adult children for education and work and a growing desire by older adults to "age in place"(2).
Problem
Significant effort and commitment by both parties is needed to overcome the distance while nurturing these intergenerational bonds (i.e. use of accommodative censorship: avoiding certain topics to protect feelings and maintain harmony (3)).
Why is this important?
The well-being of both generations can depend on the quality of these lifelong bonds, as frequent contact allows adult children to be more aware of their parent's physical, cognitive, and living conditions, including signs of deterioration or abuse (4).
User Groups
Primary Users
Adult children of aging parents.
We anticipated that they would experience greater challenges (i.e. maintaining work schedule, managing a young family, & other social obligations) in maintaining long-distance connection with their parents.
Secondary Users
Aging parents who directly interact with their adult children.
Research Questions
Based on insights from our desk research and primary users, we centered our user research around 3 key questions to more effectively examine the experiences of long-distance families
01
Emotional Relationships
How do these adults navigate their emotional relationship to their parent?
02
Current Connection
How do these adults view their current connection to their parent?
03
Tools and Methods
What do adult children use to connect with their aging parent who lives far away?
Methods
6 Semi-Structured Interviews
We interviewed both adult children and their parents to gain context into both parties’ perceptions on their relationship dynamic, including what was most meaningful to them in maintaining their relationship.
3-Day Diary Studies
The physical diary study with 3 adult children revealed how their perceived relationship dynamics with parents manifested in daily life.
I designed the diary to explore triggers, motivations, and timing of interactions or thoughts related to their parents, how mood influenced these interactions, and core memories that evoked connection and nostalgia.
Mood Tracker: How did you wake up feeling today?
Restless
Focused
Need to accomplish a lot
What do you share in common with your parent(s)?
Cincinnati (hometown)
Hilton Head (yearly vacation)
Holiday trips
Phone calls, texts & photos
Same taste in books as Dad
“Sharing photos back and forth over text”
“Sharing book recommendations with my Dad - share a library log-in to share back & forth”
Affinity Diagram
Synthesizing our diary study reports and interview observations into findings validated our initial desk research and user assumptions (i.e. that adult children often determine family connection frequency and practice self-censorship to maintain family harmony).
Factors that Inhibit Connection Between Adult Children & Parents
Controversial Subjects
“Around 2016 election in the U.S. and the end of the 2020 but there were definitely times where I didn’t communicate [with my parents] as often because I didn’t want to really chat about those things” (P1)
Busy Schedules
“When I’m busy and a lot is going on, I won’t call them as much. But even then, maybe once a week still.” (P2)
Time Zone Difference
“...harder to connect on afternoons and weekdays due to time difference” (P3)
Key Insights
Research Synthesis
We distilled all of our findings into 5 key insights that best captured the core challenges and experiences of adult children. These insights served as the foundation for our ideation concepts.
01
Conversation boosters in a remote connection include reminiscing on past events, coordinating future events and sending real time imagery and updates.
“Typically, I would text them if I am out and about, like “oh I just saw this cool thing or this photo that showed up in my memory from my phone.” (P2)
02
Conversation dampers include coping with the demands of one’s work, spouse or pet, as well as schedule mismatches, tricky topics, and time zone differences.
“As for like generalized news and stuff, I don't really like to dig into that...they just have like a view that is just at odds with my values.” (P1)
03
Imbalance in the desired frequency and duration of “remote” contact favors the adult children, leaving their parents wanting more.
“I think that it is the right amount for me. I can tell you it is not the right amount for my mother...I feel a little guilty, but at the same time, like, I know my limits.” (P3)
04
Shared in person experiences are instrumental in keeping adult children feeling connected with their parents by maintaining family traditions and shared interests.
“I think that it is the right amount for me. I can tell you it is not the right amount for my mother...I feel a little guilty, but at the same time, like, I know my limits.” (P3)
05
Texting enables convenient, personalized messaging to maintain solidarity across long distance intergenerational relationships, such as through sharing pictures, check ins, jokes and thoughtful messages.
“Whatever excuse she can find to text me I am pretty sure she Googles in the morning what holidays are today and if there is a relevant enough reason, she will text me.” (P3)
Refined Design Challenge
How Might We
Using our research insights, we refined our design challenge to pinpoint the most crucial aspects of positive long-distance connection for adult children with their parents.
How might we nurture long distance meaningful connection between adults and their parents, rooted in joy?
Meaningful Connection
Capturing the essence of in-person experiences
Rooted in Joy
Making it easy on the adult children while pleasing the parents, embracing shared commonalities and memories.
Ideation
Design Principles
Prior to generating concepts, we developed 5 key design principles that we deemed as crucial guidelines to consider.
01
Foster Mutual Interaction
Two-way, interactive, & participatory
Derived from Insight 01 & 02 (Conversation Boosters & Dampers)
02
Nurture Consistent Connection
Established ongoing & long term connection, rather than a one-time experience
Derived from Insight 03 (Imbalance in Desired Frequency)
03
Build Upon & Make New Memories
Harness nostalgia, while giving opportunity to create new shared momentos.
Derived from Insight 01 & 04 (Conversation Boosters & Shared In-Person Experiences)
04
Make it Easy to Adopt
Low barrier to entry & seamless to integrate
Derived from Insight 05 (Convenient Personalized Messaging)
05
Spark Joy, Not Shame
Delight users without placing undue pressure on interactions.
Derived from Insight 03 & 04 (Imbalance in Desired Frequency & Shared In-Person Experiences)
Downselection
In response to our HMW design challenge, we produced 120 concept sketches, categorized them thematically, and dot-voted to identify the most promising ideas that met all 5 design principles.
Themes
Travel
Sports
Nostalgia
Food
Emerging Tech
Weather
Media
Spirituality
Arts
Education
Storyboarding
We chose our final design solution from the remaining concepts through storyboarding each popular idea with relevant target user scenarios, illustrating further the right context and feature
User Journey Map
Understanding the User
Given the speculative nature of the concept, we created a user journey map to ideate the critical features and interaction points between users and PastPresent. This enabled us to identify key moments for prototyping and testing while gaining more insight into the emotional arc of memory-sharing, a deeply personal and intimate experience.
Low-Fidelity Prototypes
User Testing
We developed and tested 4 low-fidelity prototypes for each of the key moments identified in our user journey map with 5 participants.
Key Moment 01
Anticipation & Memory Curation
We incorporated a surprise glow feedback to build anticipation for PastPresent’s memory curation process. We believed this ambient feedback would encourage users to converse with their family members and foster a shared curiosity to open PastPresent together.
Inspired by Design Principles:
(01) Foster Mutual Interaction
(05) Spark Joy, Not Shame
User Feedback on “Glow Sequence”
Most participants felt that the glow peaked their curiosity in opening the device. They felt that the lighting feedback was “interesting” (P1) and gave the device an “experiential factor” (P2). Some expected the device to help them with scheduling, such as P2 saying, “I’m going to hopefully be able to decide on a time through some feature on this device here?”
Key Moment 02
Memory Selection
We tested a carousel format for displaying 3 images alongside a fourth option to select into a larger memory gallery for more photos.We believed this format would intuitively invite users to swipe through the collection of images.
Inspired by Design Principles:
(04) Make It Easy to Adopt
User Feedback on “Photo Carousel”
Most participants found the carousel format intuitive and convenient, further appreciating the photo library in providing additional memories to select from, with P5 sharing that, “the three option idea is good, I don’t want to spend half an hour just to choose a picture.” However, some participants were confused by the source of where these memories came from.
Key Moment 03
Memory Sharing & AI Assistant
We wanted users to be able to manipulate three-dimensional holographic images, creating a more immersive memory-sharing experience with family. To stimulate meaningful conversation, we sought to incorporate an AI conversation assistant.
Inspired by Design Principles:
(01) Foster Mutual Interaction
(03) Build Upon & Make New Memories
(05) Spark Joy, Not Shame
User Feedback on “Holographic Images & AI”
Most participants enjoyed the physical manipulation of the hologram image and welcomed the AI-assistance, with P3 sharing how, “I’m someone who is more quiet...so I think [AI prompts] would be helpful, really helpful.” However, participants valued having the choice to activate or deactivate it.
Key Moment 04
Conversation End & Storage
We aimed to provide participants with a natural way to end conversations when both parties feel it's appropriate. We wanted to offer a method for saving conversations, enabling future generations to engage with the conversations surrounding memory-sharing by family.
Inspired by Design Principles:
(03) Build Upon & Make New Memories
(05) Spark Joy, Not Shame
User Feedback on “Session End Pop-up"
Most participants appreciated the option to choose when to conclude the conversation and the choice to save it, with one participant recommending establishing privacy settings to control who can access these stored interactions in the future, p5 confessing, “I will be selective of which photos I show [my future kids]...the timing is important like when I choose to disclose some of the information.”
Final Solution
PastPresent
Based on the insights gathered from user tests, we designed an immersive high-fidelity solution that combines the convenience of a mobile app with a physical, holographic photo album device.
Experience the Immersive World of PastPresent
Pause/Play
Onboarding App
To address feedback on the unknown origin of the media uploaded to PastPresent, we created a companion mobile app that allows users to transfer their personal media files directly from their phones to the device. The app also enables users to pair their PastPresent devices and determine the frequency of the memory-sharing conversations.
01
Initial “Set up” or “Log in” screen.
03
Sync media and contacts from phone onto PastPresent.
05
Pairing with parent’s PastPresent device.
02
Sync phone with device through tapping on PastPresent.
PastPresent Device
04
Synced contact of parent detected.
06
Set conversation frequency with parent and begin use.
Hologram Device
Based on user feedback, we enhanced the PastPresent device interface by incorporating a more vibrant and eye-catching surprise glow feature to build anticipation, simplifying the navigation and interaction with the hologram photos, and integrating an optional AI agent to assist users.
Key Moment 01
Anticipation & Memory Curation
Day 1 Initial Glow
A subtle glow to indicate memory curation is beginning.
Day 2 Ebb and Flow Glow
A flashing glow in order to catch even more attention.
Day 3+ Maximum Glow
The brightest glow to clearly indicate the memory is fully curated and PastPresent can be opened.
After Glow Sequence & Device is Engaged
01 Schedule Session (Memory is Ready)
When PastPresent is opened, a pop-up message of memory-loading completion appears.
02 Session Begins (Other User is Here)
When both users have their devices opened, they see a pop-up message indicating the other user is present and can begin the session.
Key Moment 02
Memory Selection
We retained the carousel format based on positive user feedback, displaying three thematically linked images with visual indicators for horizontal scrolling, and enabling manual photo selection via the memory gallery.
Gesture
Physical Action
Digital Holographic Effect
One finger swipe (left)
Swipe through the photo carousel & memory gallery.
One finger swipe (right)
Swipe through the photo carousel & memory gallery.
Photo Carousel Device UI
Key Moment 03
Memory Sharing & AI Assistant
To preserve user agency and minimize disrupting the conversation flow, we implemented an AI listening button for users to toggle on and off in order to receive conversation prompts.
One finger tap
Select an option or object.
Two finger pinch
Zoom into or out of view.
Scoop with palm
Hold in palm and move 3D hologram media.
Gesture
Physical Action
Device Effect
Main Device UI
Rendered Image
Key Moment 04
Conversation End & Storage
To meet user preferences for conversation privacy, we added options to save and restrict access to a conversation, managing user expectations for revisiting the saved media collection in the future.
Saved Conversation Device UI
Design System
Crafting the Brand
Based on user insights revealing a desire for nostalgia and preserving family relics, we created a mood board that encapsulates the look and feel of PastPresent, guided by the theme: "Memory-sharing like a timeless bond,” to emphasize the intergenerational significance of long-distance family connection.
Timeless
Represents PastPresent's brand values of honoring classic, everlasting family connection and traditions while solidifying the continuation of family connection for generations to come.
Image Source: Pexels.com & Adobe Firefly
Colors
Night Sky
#011322
Firewood
#431609
Mocha
#713310
Cashmere
#A4856E
Fog
#E2DED9
Eggnog
#F3ECE1
Typography
Trirong
A minimalist and versatile sans-serif typeface by Vernon Adams was chosen for its superior readability in both our holograph device UI and App UI, especially in bold weights and smaller sizes. Its clear rendering of numbers and maintained legibility across fonts at smaller sizes make it ideal for displaying dynamic elements.
Hierarchy
Style
Usage
H1
Trirong, Regular, 72pt
Line height: 115%
Marketing Materials:
For Display Headings
Body 1
Trirong, Regular, 16pt
Line height: 130%
Marketing Materials:
For Body Text
Mulish
A minimalist and versatile sans-serif typeface by Vernon Adams was chosen for its superior readability in both our holograph device UI and App UI, especially in bold weights and smaller sizes. Its clear rendering of numbers and maintained legibility across fonts at smaller sizes make it ideal for displaying dynamic elements.
Hierarchy
Style
Usage
H1
Mulish, Semibold, 76pt
Line height: 95%
Device UI:
For Headings
Body 1
Mulish, Regular, 34pt
Line height: 95%
Device UI:
For Body Text
H2
Mulish, Regular, 28pt
Line height: 35%
Mobile App UI:
For Headings
H3
Mulish, Regular, 24pt
Line height: 35%
Mobile App UI:
For Sub-Headings
H4
Mulish, Regular, 20pt
Line height: 25%
Mobile App UI:
For Option & Image
Body 2
Mulish, Regular, 16pt
Line height: 20%
Mobile App UI:
For Body Text
Logo
Designed to symbolize the convergence of the past, present, and future, embodying the essence of the brand name, PastPresent.
01 Logo Variation
02 Logo Variation
App Icon
Reflection
Goals
The product aims to strengthen long-distance family connection and improve emotional well-being between adult children and their parents. To measure success, we would:
Success Metrics
Administer surveys & interviews to determine noticeable changes in relationship satisfaction, communication frequency, and emotional well-being between adult children and their parents. Compare metrics before and after product use to assess effectiveness
Track potential for subscription-based revenue models by expanding upon communication frequency metrics, such as daily/weekly active users, average session duration, and frequency of memory sharing.
Key Takeaways
The rapid development of low-fidelity prototypes, especially for highly speculative ideas, has demonstrated their merit in effectively conveying concepts and gathering user feedback quickly.
If I had more time, I would leverage VR Technology to test the speculative prototype in mimicking the immersive design of memory-sharing through PastPresent.
We fell short in our usability tests by focusing on individual users instead of parent-child pairs; we missed capturing the nuanced, emotionally complex interactions inherent in intergenerational memory sharing. Moving forward, I will champion comprehensive multi-user testing to ensure my designs can truly resonate within dynamic user relationships.
