Nicolas SanabriaProduct designer · NYC
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Storytelling · Product design

UNEARTHStories that live on.

Digital time capsules for preserving memories and discovering other people’s stories.

UNEARTH product interfaceDigital time capsules / 3 months

The short version

People risk losing their digital memories and need control over how those memories are shared.

Contribution
Research, Branding, Usability testing, UX/UI Design, Prototypes.
Duration
3 months
Read the storyJump to reflection

Unearth lets people collect memories in digital time capsules and explore stories left by others.

I was the sole designer, conducting interviews and usability tests and developing the identity, wireframes, and prototypes in Figma.

UNEARTH / Product overview 1 · Interface demonstration
UNEARTH — UNEARTH / Product overview 2
UNEARTH / Product overview 2
CHAPTER 01

Understanding the problem.

01 / Design study

The project

Design goals

  • Help people preserve and share personal histories.
  • Make stories easy to organize and explore across generations.

What I learned

Accessibility shapes who can take part in storytelling. It needs attention from the first sketch, especially when designing for different generations.

02 / Design study

Understanding the user

Interview participants felt disconnected from their personal histories and unsure how to preserve them. They wanted a simpler way to collect and share memories.

The Sarah persona helped focus the design on preserving personal stories and making them accessible.

UNEARTH — Understanding the user / 01
Understanding the user / 01
UNEARTH — Understanding the user / 02
Understanding the user / 02
CHAPTER 02

Turning insights into interactions.

03 / Design study

Design Process

I tested layouts on paper before building wireframes. The home screen centers on the time capsule collection, with options to create, share, and explore stories.

UNEARTH — Design Process
Design Process

04 / Design study

Usability Testing

Participants valued the personal and educational uses of time capsules. Feedback pointed to simpler interactions and better accessibility as areas to refine.

UNEARTH — Usability Testing
Usability Testing

05 / Design study

Redefining the Design

UNEARTH — Redefining the Design / 01
Redefining the Design / 01
UNEARTH — Redefining the Design / 02
Redefining the Design / 02
UNEARTH — Redefining the Design / 03
Redefining the Design / 03
UNEARTH — Redefining the Design / 04
Redefining the Design / 04
UNEARTH — Redefining the Design / 05
Redefining the Design / 05
CHAPTER 03

Looking beyond the screen.

06 / Design study

Accessibility Considerations

  • Make keyboard focus visible.
  • Provide captions and transcripts for audio and video.
  • Give forms descriptive labels and useful error messages.

07 / Design study

Next Steps

  • Test with people of different ages and abilities.
  • Refine accessibility based on their feedback.
  • Add guides, tutorials, and lesson plans.
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