Designers
Designers
Designers
Archive
Preserving the stories, values, and wishes that shape a life beyond goodbye.
Key Words
Designers
Amaris Kim
SUMMARY
Death and end-of-life choices remain taboo, despite being deeply communal experiences. I began by exploring cemetery design, then examined the politics and socio-cultural nuances of the death-care industry through questionnaires, probes, interviews, and observation. I found that denial fuels friction for individuals and families. Archive helps users preserve memories, express values, and organize essential documents to be shared after passing, easing stress for arrangers and fostering a more death-conscious society.
challenge
Individuals and families experience emotional friction through lack of communication along with overwhelmed feelings of balancing a respectful send off, while remaining within financial viability. Protective legislation limits competition for funeral homes, keeping the circle small and resistant to change, discouraging the use of more sustainable alternatives to burials.
Outcome
Interviewees expressed guilt about leaving financial and logistical burdens.The project became a digital platform for younger generations to gradually collect important information, preferences, and values to pass on to arrangers. Cataloging memories through images, video, voice notes, and generative prompts helps spark stories and reveal people arrangers may not have known, strengthening community. Storing documents and end-of-life preferences, similar to a will, makes planning clearer and wishes respected.
MEET THE Designers:
Amaris Kim