He/Him
A music player designed to help people living with dementia reconnect with meaningful memories through photographs, familiarity, and sound.
For people living with dementia, music can trigger powerful emotional and memory–based responses. However, existing music technology often feels overly complicated, unfamiliar, or clinical, creating barriers to independent use and meaningful engagement. This can reduce opportunities for emotional connection, routine, and comfort through music.
Memora is a personalised music player designed to reconnect individuals with meaningful memories through familiar photographs and music. Physical photo discs act as intuitive controls, allowing users to play associated songs simply by placing them onto the device.
The product combines nostalgic interaction (similar to record / CD players) with modern technology to create an experience that feels calming, approachable, and emotionally engaging. Gentle light and sound prompts encourage engagement during moments of low initiative or withdrawal.
Through simplified interaction, tactile feedback, and domestic aesthetics, Memora encourages moments of recognition, reassurance, and connection within everyday life.
Family members or carers begin by selecting meaningful photographs and placing them into personalised frames. Using the companion app, each frame is linked to a familiar playlist or song before being displayed naturally throughout the home.
When periods of low initiative occur, gentle light and sound prompts encourage interaction. Simply placing a photo frame onto the device plays the associated music, creating a simple and intuitive experience that reconnects users with familiar memories, emotions, and routines.
The final outcome balances functionality with emotional value, moving away from clinical aesthetics towards something that feels personal, calming, and worthy of display within the home. The project also challenged me to consider how industrial design can support not only practical needs, but also dignity, identity, and human connection.
