The inspiration for my final year project came from my love for all things music. I particularly like physical music – music players and formats like CDs, vinyl and cassettes, which I’ve been collecting ever since I got my first record player a few years ago. I wanted my project to represent that side of me.
The idea that music can reconnect people with dementia to their memories, even when other forms of communication become difficult, really inspired me. I wanted to find a way to bring back the physical essence of music and allow people to experience that joy again.
Through research, I found that many existing devices and services are too complex, which can limit independence. So my concept focuses on simplifying the experience while bringing back the joy of physical music – designing a music player that converts physical memorabilia, like photographs, into tangible memories through personalised playlists.
The idea is that the user would put photographs into special frames, then place the frames into the music player. The player would recognise the specific frame and play songs that link to memories from the photographs, creating a musical experience that both the carer and the person with dementia can enjoy.
My project aims to tackle a very human issue, so an important first step in the design process was speaking to as many people as possible, whether that be expert researchers, course mates with family members with dementia, or carers who work with dementia patients. I then developed my ideas through a mix of sketching and iterative prototyping, looking into dementia-friendly design and collecting insights around how people interact with familiar objects.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was balancing simplicity with functionality – making the product easy enough for someone with dementia to use, while still keeping it meaningful and effective. I had to make the features basic, yet not infantile. To overcome this, I focused on designing something that feels respectful and age-appropriate, using familiar forms and more refined materials. I had to simplify the interaction without oversimplifying the user, and make sure the product supports independence while still feeling dignified and emotionally meaningful.
My previous years of study at Loughborough have really been useful in developing the skills I've needed to make this product, especially relating to CAD and 3D printing. Access to the Design School’s workshops and materials have also been important, as it’s allowed me to physically develop and refine the design rather than just keeping it digital.
The wider university resources, including feedback from tutors and peers, also played a big role in challenging my ideas and helping me push the project further, especially in making sure the outcome felt both functional and emotionally appropriate.
I'm really excited to have my work displayed at the Degree Show. I feel like it's the culmination of the past few years of developing my design skills and the way I think about user-centred design.
It also feels like an important step towards moving into the industry and presenting my work in a more professional context. It's a great opportunity for me to demonstrate my capabilities to employers and people who are scouting out future talent.
I hope people will understand the emotional intent behind the design, not just its function. Ideally, they’ll recognise that it’s about connection and memory, rather than just being a piece of technology. I’d like people to find my design intuitive and approachable – something they feel comfortable picking up and engaging with without needing explanation.
This project and my university experience as a whole has really pushed me to another level of deeper design thinking that I'll be able to use in my future career. After graduating, I’m hoping to move into industrial design, ideally working on products that have a real social impact and solve issues in creative, unique ways. My project directly connects to that. It's given me a concrete goal to work towards, which has been really fulfilling.
