EverAfter

Help preserve memories while letting go of objects following a loss

What is it?


EverAfter is a mobile app that gently supports older adults through the emotional process of letting go of a loved one’s belongings. It helps users reflect, find closure, and release items without feeling like they’re losing the connection.

 


Research shows that for many older individuals, handling the belongings of a deceased loved one is a deeply emotional and meaningful process. Sentimental items often become bridges to memory, anchoring the past to the present. The complexity of letting go varies from person to person, but for many, this is a significant step in the journey through grief and in moving forward.

 


EverAfter invites users on a personal emotional journey made up of several gentle stages. They begin by photographing the item they have chosen, giving it a personal name, sharing the memories it holds, and responding to prompts that encourage emotional reflection on the loss. Throughout the journey, users are given the opportunity to return to their saved memories and objects — fostering a sense of continuity, connection, and meaning within a supportive emotional space where they can process, preserve, and, when they feel ready, let go.

Project Info


  • Students: Ellit Belahsen, Aviv Exman, Ariel Govrin, Holly
  • Shani, Michaela Sherbu Cohen.
  • Year: 2025
  • Lecturer: Dr. Noa Morag
  • Teaching Assistant: Ofir Sadka
  • Industrial designer: Aviad Kelner
     
    Students' Website 

How does it work?


After downloading the app, the user is guided through a short and simple onboarding process, where they document the item they wish to process emotionally by taking a photo and giving it a meaningful name. The app then invites them to choose how they would like to share their memory of the object, either through writing or voice recording, supported by guiding questions.

 


Next, reflective prompts such as “In what moments was this object present?” are offered, encouraging mindful emotional engagement. At the end of the process, users are invited to decide what they would like to do with the memory, whether to keep the object, let it go, or hold on to the memory alone.

 


All stories, memories, and decisions are saved in a private and organized space within the app, allowing users to revisit them whenever they wish. They also have the option to download and share their memories outside of the app, offering peace of mind that nothing will be lost.