How might we intentionally create moments of meaning and connection to outlast our lives?

This project aims to question notions of personhood, identity, and legacy through design research. We explored how the diagnosis of a terminal illness can throw identity into flux; in the face of overwhelming uncertainty, meaning shifts and personhood becomes comprised less by achievements, and more by small, seemingly random everyday moments where people can still find a sense of control, like steaming broccoli or collecting quarters on the ground.

Starting by curating stories through a pop-up art installation and other design artifacts, we have crafted a non-prescriptive journey for patients and families to find clarity in these meaningful moments and activate them together in order to create a continued celebration of personhood.