SUMMARY
Frames of Life ~The Red Thread~ is an interactive card game designed for women 45–60 to rediscover themselves through sensory nostalgia and storytelling. We started by exploring how identity shifts in midlife often go unseen approaching women in thrift stores and second-hand curated places out of curiousity as to why the older demographic participates in that activity since it's becomes such gen z thing to do. Through primary interviews, gameplay testing, and iterative design, we created a simple, powerful tool that turns personal memories into conversation starters inspired by nostalgia in a way to look and move forward across generations.
challenge
We uncovered that many women 45–60 feel disconnected from their identity after years of prioritizing family, work, or caregiving. There was a shared sense of nostalgia; many loved connecting to different decades through secondhand clothing, finding thrill in repurposing old pieces into something new. Moms, aunts, and grandmothers we spoke to said, “I forgot what I love.” They struggled to articulate how they’ve changed and the market lacked a nonclinical, joyful way for women to reflect, feel seen, and reconnect with themselves.
Outcome
We eventually landed on The Red Thread to unlock frames of life where players can play solo, with friends, or family members stitching threads through generations/decades and people. It's a three tiered card game packaged with sensory prompts using smell, music, and memory to guide players through the past, present, and future. Feedback showed it sparked laughter, reflection, and emotional connection. By prioritizing aesthetics, accessibility, and emotional safety, we built something real people wanted to share and that directly filled a gap in how aging women connect with themselves & others & ignite inspiration showing it's never too late!
MEET THE Designers:
Sharon Sage Batan
Frankie Belle Stark
Venessa Liu