A Collaborative Space for Shared Photos and Memories
Team
Founder (PM) , Engineers
Role
Product Designer
The Problem
Social media has become performative. Metrics like likes and comments could drive anxiety and comparison, particularly for Gen Z. Many users hesitate to post at all, fearing judgement or lack of engagement.
We wanted to flip that.
Instead of “how can I stand out?” — the goal became:
“How can we build something together?”
The Goal
Create a platform where people feel safe to share real moments—not for validation, but for connection.
We aimed to build:
A pressure-free environment
A way for users to co-create shared albums
A system of authentic engagement.
Research & Insights
We spoke to Gen Z users to understand their mindset around social media. A few key insights stood out:
72% felt anxious about posting due to engagement pressure
68% wanted more casual, unfiltered ways to share
60% said they’d love to collaborate on content with friends
This guided both our feature set and design tone—playful, private, and low-pressure.
As the sole lead designer for this product developed from scratch, I focused on delivering a seamless, user-centred experience that aligned with the product vision and goals at every stage. My approach involved:
Design Process
Ideation & Wireframes
I started by mapping out core flows—uploading, inviting friends, viewing group posts.
Key ideas:
Albums that friends contribute to together
Emoji-based reactions instead of public comments
A frictionless photo upload flow
The UI was designed to feel minimal, friendly, and intuitive. I led the visual direction, working closely with engineers to keep interactions smooth and inviting.
In the final review, we aligned with stakeholders and prepped designs for beta testing, with dev-ready specs and prototypes.
High-Fidelity Design & Final Review
Core Features:
-
Group photo post
Real-time, collaborative photo sharing that encourages users to create a post and cherish memories together.
-
Group Chats with a Twist
A fresh take on group chats, incorporating creative photo-sharing features to spark lively and engaging conversations.
-
Personalised Feeds
Customised feeds to reduce content overload, allowing users to see updates from friends and favourite communities.
Launch & Impact
The app significantly improved user engagement and fostered stronger connections:
We launched a closed beta with a strong focus on feedback. Here’s what happened:
📈 25% increase in daily photo uploads
🧡 Users loved the collaborative albums and reactions
⭐️ 4.8 App Store rating
Reviews praised the app for “making sharing fun again” and “taking the pressure off”
⚠️ Note: The app is no longer live due to business changes but the positive reception, retention, and engagement validated the core product experience.
Key Iterations
Based on early testing, we made some critical changes:
Private invites were prioritised over public sharing
Simplified the onboarding flow
Improved clarity around who could contribute to an album
Reflections
This project was a turning point for me. I led a product from idea to launch, collaborated cross-functionally, and designed for real emotional needs—not just UI polish.
It also reminded me that design alone doesn’t make a product succeed—strategy, timing, and business goals matter just as much.
Still, I’m proud of what we built. We gave users a more honest way to share. And I grew into a designer who can handle ambiguity, lead vision, and adapt fast.
Get in Touch
Interested in learning more about this project? Let's connect!