GINGKO
(Senior Thesis Project @ UIC)
I designed a mobile app that combines social networking, genealogy, and family storybook collections in order to encourage communication and connection between generations within immigrant families.
summary
Disconnections can be felt on a daily basis within immigrant families: with cultural, geographical, generational, and language barriers preventing them from truly knowing the depths of each other. Gingko attempts to create a sense of connected-ness between past and future generations by curating prompts for personal, unique, and untold stories. These narratives will not only construct an identity for each individual, but also help build a stronger relationship to ancestors, culture, and self.
the context
Communication technology has advanced and broken geographical barriers by increasing our ability to develop relationships at a distance. But, what has it done to build emotionally and spiritually enriching communication that enhance our closest relationships?
Social media has become about breadth, not depth. It may have allowed us to connect with hundreds of people, but it has failed to support real connection. These platforms have cultivated their own pervasive culture — each seeking breadth, not depth. Promoting more likes, followers, posts, and attention for the sole purpose of revenue. Instead of the promise of authentic interactions, it has resulted in more disconnect, misunderstandings, and a lack of empathy between individuals and these behaviors have seeped into society.
Who do you really know?
Alyson McClaran — Reuter’s (L); Cindy Ord — Getty Images (R)
Reality check.
It’s clear that there are misunderstandings and miscommunications, and media heightens these differences. Yet, this pandemic has shown that it allows us to connect and support each other from wherever we are and technology will be inevitable in our lives.
As we move forward, it will be crucial to learn how to create more depth in the way we communicate, space for understanding, and to restore meaningful human connections again, before they are lost.
the problem
What about immigrant families?
We’ve only begun to recognize the consequences of being far from each other and the ache of not being able to see each other.
On a micro-scale, experiencing these disconnections and feeling a sense of loss is an everyday reality. Cultural, geographical, generational, and language barriers prevent second generational immigrants from developing relationships with their relatives and these meaningful connections are being lost.
the goal
Build deeper relationships across generations within an immigrant family through the sharing of untold stories.
Considerations:
Humanize each other through individual and personal narratives that can be passed down and shared through generations
Create a media platform that is inclusive for all generations, celebrates diverse culture, and inspires deep meaningful connections
the design
Prompts
Explore and share from a range of prompts to answer such as: historical events, traditions, future, and more.
These questions aim to bridge barriers by bringing out unique stories and points of view form all generations.
Home
Dive deeper into the lives of each individual and learn about their past through their personal narratives.
Learn about historical context, who shared the same experiences, and break the language barrier.
Profile
Connect and view stories from family members and continue to add your own collection of stories.
Share with past, present, and future generations so they can get to know you, no matter where you are.
Shop
Customize your own deck of cards.
Transcend time and hold each card as a reminder that your family is never out of reach.
skills
design research
graphic design
UI design
UX design
video editing
tools
adobe illustrator
adobe photoshop
adobe premiere
figma