RDU · Durham
Snapshots
A collaborative time capsule for the in-between moments that quietly define us.
- Role
- Designer + Builder
- Timeline
- FEB 2026 – APR 2026
- Technical Dialect
- Figma · React Native · Swift
Problem
While standard photo-sharing apps excel at archiving major events, they fail to give proper weight to spontaneous side quests — the powerful spaces between the words in our stories. I was excited to tackle this design challenge: maximizing collective in-app documentation while minimizing screen time so users stay deeply immersed in the moment.
Solution
Snapshots builds a dedicated time capsule for these memories by enforcing an intentional 24-hour event reveal delay and a completely invisible interface that restricts live media reviews during an event. This architecture keeps users fully present in the moment while enabling the post-event, collective reconstruction of their shared stories.
§ Shipped
What I built
The Process
Design architecture
Optional deep dive — how the problem became the shipped product.
User Research
Interviewed strangers about memory and how they relive moments. From those conversations, I defined the product's ethos and the mental model I wanted users to construct, starting with a free-form list of every word, theme, and analogy that came to mind around "memorializing."
User Flow Mapping
Mapped out user flows and frames built around the concepts I'd ideated. Played with different metaphors, from journals to shoeboxes to scrapbooks, until I landed on a film reel-esque approach that felt right. I also wrote dev notes for each frame to plan out the app's architecture before building.
Iteration to MVP
Iterated and finalized the design, testing with users until I landed on the MVP. Received funding from Duke University to put it on the App Store, shipping soon.