Each memory is a universe in a box.

Hakoniwa is a Japanese word that means “miniature landscape in a box”. And I think this can also be applied to describe the role that memory plays among people.

I started this project with the idea of documenting the dimensions of people’s lives in a visual way. The life dimension here refers to memory, the memory of people with people. Because I believe that memory shapes our ego, as well as our common impressions in a group, and that memories of the past lead us to make choices that affect the future. So I think memory is certainly one of the most important parts of people’s lives.

After determining the conceptual direction, I use the axes as the basis for visualization. x-axis is the date, y-axis is the month, and z-axis is the year. Try to imagine an infinite space where each person we meet is positioned on the date we first met them and extends infinitely along the z-axis (year). And in the process, people who know each other are connected to each other, and then form a single surface.

The basic user flow can then be roughly constructed as follows.
1. registration/login
2. Guide the use process
3. Bind social accounts, import all contacts / manually enter contacts
4. Axis visualization

In addition to the above process, I have also thought of some small details that can enrich the user experience.
1. set a specific contact as a star contact, the contact will be marked with a different color
2. The line along the z-axis will change color and transparency with the contact frequency
3. When users click on a contact’s point, they will enter the contact’s card screen, where the most frequently used words/sentences with the contact will be slid in the form of a stream of information
4. The user can zoom in/out on the life dimension model, and after zooming in to the limit and operating again, he/she will see his/her own and others’ models tied to each other, but cannot access others’ models.

I hope Hakoniwa will make people aware of the fragility and preciousness of human connection, and also soothe the souls of those who are drowning in the memories of the past, telling them that we are not alone and that the threads formed by memories surround the world and connect us all together.