I’ve been thinking more about the kind of visual language and overall feeling I want it to have. I know I don’t want it to feel overly playful or homemade. I want it to feel thoughtful, meaningful and appropriate for the subject matter, especially because the project is so closely tied to memory, preservation and emotion.
Something that feels more like an archive or museum display. Visually, this could mean a much cleaner and more structured aesthetic, using strong contrast, simple sans-serif type and layouts that feel almost like an exhibition label or cataloguing system. I like the idea of the object being treated like an artefact.
What interests me about this direction is that it supports the idea of preservation well. If the Memory Box feels like a serious object it may help users feel that their memories are being cared for properly and treated with dignity.
Another direction I’ve been considering is a more tactile, analogue inspired aesthetic. This would take influence from older technology rather than making everything feel flat and screen based.
I imagine this through materials like dark wood, metal details and warmer light or display elements.
This direction feels useful because it could help with the fabrication side of the project. If the box looked more like a object for the home, it might feel more natural for people to keep and use in their own environment.
A very different direction is something more atmospheric and expressive, leaning into the emotional and almost magical side of memory.
In this style the experience could feel more ritualistic. Materials and details might feel richer or more unusual, with the box acting almost like a container for treasured personal stories rather than just stored content.
What I like about this is how it supports storytelling. It turns the interaction into something more emotionally charged, which could make the experience more memorable and personal.
The final direction I’ve been thinking about is more digital and fragmented. This comes from the idea that memory is not always complete or stable. It can fade, distort or break apart over time.
I think this direction is interesting because it connects to concerns around ageing technology, digital loneliness and the idea of things gradually disappearing.
At the moment, I do not think I have fully settled on one single direction, but exploring these different visual approaches is helping me understand what I want the project to communicate. Each one highlights a different part of the Memory Box idea preservation, tactility, storytelling or fragility.