If you could erase a memory, would you?
Clean Forget // Futuristic App Design // Case Study // Duration 2 weeks
Brief
Think of a unique idea that you will translate into a digital app. This idea should be futuristic — using technology that we don’t yet have but could be possible. The idea should solve a real problem for the users.
Idea
I was inspired by “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and the memory erasure procedure, the idea of an app that could help you after the memory is gone and could prevent what happened to Clementine & Joel– to meet again. An app that could track the person you erased, that could warn you not to go in certain neighborhoods, and so on. Before I started to develop the idea further I need to find out what users think of it and when, why, and how would they use it.
Would you erase a person after a break-up?
I did 7 User interviews, one hour long each, and every single one of them said pretty much the same thing about the idea. They loved it, and they wish such a thing existed! Completely contradictory to their first reaction, when I asked them would you use it? Everyone said immediately “No!”. Users said that that kind of memory is a treasure after the heartache is gone, it’s a learning curve and they wouldn’t want to forget. Probably some of them would reach for it right after the break-up but most likely would regret such a decision later. So I asked if not a break-up what kind of memory would they erase if any? Most of them said traumatic events that cause PTSD and that don’t really offer a learning curve or a silver lining.
Repurpose the app
With the answers of my 7 user interviewees in mind, I repurposed the app into a psychotherapy method that is used when all the other methods are exhausted, and the memory erasure procedure could be the answer to help heal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Survey
My next step was to research the new idea further, understand the users, and understand if my idea was aligned with them this time around. 52 users answered and I had a perfect starting point.
Hypothetical statements
Informational Architecture & Application Map
As we know the technology doesn’t exist yet, but I need to at least theoretically develop it to be able to make this app. So I started with a Mind map, Affinity Diagrams, and extensive brainstorming. Finally, when I had the whole picture I was able to build the Informational architecture and an application map.
The application is divided into 3 stages that are never visible simultaneously, they appear after you completed a previous stage and it’s not possible to go back.
1st stage
Is used to find out if this patient is eligible for the procedure, in this stage the user can also find a broad set of information about the procedure and can take the preliminary eligibility test.
The test could determine that the user is not suitable for the memory erasure procedure, hence the flow for this user stops here.
2nd stage
Is accessible only after the eligibility confirmation. This stage is a helping the user gather all the possible documents connected to the traumatic event that will be terminated, create content for themselves that will be crucial in the 3rd stage, and connect their therapist that has the overview and the medical knowledge of the patient.
3rd stage
Available only after the memory erasure procedure has been performed. The 3rd stage is there to assist the patient in case of side effects because of the procedure. It also has the feature “I want to know”, in case a patient for some reason wants to know more about the memory that has been erased. This feature is password-protected, in order to slow down the user and make them possibly change their minds about the reveal of the memory. After all 3 passwords have been entered, with a 24 hours delay between them, the user can access the data that was uploaded in the second stage, the short and then a long video letter of themselves explaining the reason why they took the procedure and the details about the erased traumatic event, as well as pictures, videos, documents, and other triggers.
Proto-Persona
I made a proto-persona that was slightly based on my interviewees, but that could help me build a coherent user flow, as well as make me think of the possible user needs for a non-existing yet very complex technology.
User Flow
The user flow focuses on the steps of how the user reaches the 3 stages, with an emphasis on the second stage where the user provides all the required data.
Moodboard
Visually I wanted the design to be very clean, just like the name Clean Forget. Neomorphism seemed like the right choice, it looks very futuristic and extremely clean and medical. I chose Mauve and Turquoise to highlight some content.
Clean Forget
See below the prototype visuals, which are mostly of the application's second stage- preparation, and detailed explanations of some of the main features.
Findings
It was extremely hard to design with Neomorphism since it creates multiple floating levels in which the objects are placed. It is very easy to lose yourself in these levels and end up with one too many.
This project was made in 2 weeks only, coming up with the idea, researching, developing the user experience, creating all the content, and designing the prototype was a true marathon for this short amount of time, but I must say I’m proud of this project that challenged me to the maximum.
