Hi there, This is the forty fifth of D&T Special, a more in-depth view of topics that interest the Canvs team. Today's topic - Memories in the Digital Age.
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✍️ From the Canvs Research & Editorial Desk
Back in the day, a single roll of film was enough to sum up a whole year. Now, just one trip takes up a thousand photos. The strange part is that while physical albums stay safe on the shelf, digital memories often get lost in switched phones and old SD cards. This sense of loss got Hamsika Iyer, Product Designer at Canvs, thinking.
In this piece, she talks about how saving memories has changed over the years.
This piece is an observation of what changed when memory became effortless. When cameras started capturing for us, algorithms started resurfacing for us, and the act of remembering slowly moved out of our hands. What this really means is not just more memories, but thinner ones.
### Key takeaways from this read:
#### 1. Remembering without intention weakens memory
When photos are taken reflexively and stored endlessly, moments lose weight. The lack of limits removes the need to choose, and without that choice, memories become easier to forget despite being perfectly preserved.
#### 2. Algorithms now shape personal history
Platforms resurface moments based on engagement, not emotional context. Over time, this subtly edits the story we tell ourselves about the past, prioritising what performed well over what actually mattered.
#### 3. Tangible limits bring meaning back
Physical objects, film cameras, and slower tools introduce friction and loss. That effort and impermanence make memories feel real again, not because they are saved forever, but because they are cared for.
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✨ Product find of the week
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Some highlights from the past month of D&T
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And that's the lot! Thanks for checking out what we had to share with you this week, we shall catch up with you next Wednesday. Incase you aren't subscribed to the newsletter, you could subscribe here.
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