Puzzle Piece
Emotional interaction design exploring alignment, clarity, and resonance.
Role
UX/UI Design
Timeline
3 Weeks
Tools
Illustrator, PS
Context
Academic Project
The Concept
The Challenge
To express emotional resonance without animation, text overlays, or complex interactions. The visual needed to communicate connection using only colour, spacing, and metaphor.
The Approach
Start with missing pieces and misalignments, gradually moving towards a "click." Puzzle pieces became the perfect metaphor for internal alignment—finding where things finally fit.
"A visual journey from not knowing what was missing, to the quiet click of everything falling into place."
Pieces I Didn’t Know Were Missing
The journey begins with emptiness. The layout emphasizes negative space and isolation, representing the unconscious gaps in our emotional landscape.
Pieces That Didn’t Fit
Trying to force connections. The visuals show misalignment—shapes that look like they belong but don't quite lock together, creating visual tension and slight unease.
When Things Make Sense
The visual chaos begins to organize. Colors harmonize, and the grid structure becomes apparent. It’s the moment of realization before the final resolution.
Piece 315: The Click
The final state. Perfect alignment, clear colors, and a sense of "quiet." This represents the deep emotional clarity of finding your place.
Behind the Scenes
Reflection
Created under the guidance of Professor Chris, whose reflective feedback shaped the emotional clarity of the final piece. This project taught me that design doesn't always need to "shout" to be effective; sometimes the quietest changes speak the loudest.
Resources & Credits
Design: Michelle Miyata
All other images created by me.