Lovers Lane :

Private not Secret

Case Study 4 ~ 6 min read

The Problem

Sharing personal moments online often feels exposed and intrusive. Public platforms lack privacy, while sending updates one-by-one to family is time-consuming and fragmented, making it hard to stay close without sacrificing security.

The process

User research and synthesis, ideation, prototyping, interaction, usability testing

My Role

UX/UI designer

Tools

Figma

Duration

4 Weeks

The Solution

Lover’s Lane is a private, family-focused social app that replaces the noise and exposure of public platforms with a safe, intimate space for sharing. By allowing users to upload photos and revisit past memories, the app keeps loved ones connected in a secure, streamlined environment—making it easy to share life’s moments without sacrificing privacy.

2. Photo Uploads

Simple, intuitive tools for adding new pictures to share instantly.

1. Private Sharing

Only approved family and close friends can view and interact with your posts.

3. Memory Archive

A dedicated space to browse and relive past posts and shared moments.

01 Research

Private Sharing is an Overlooked Digital Need

Through interviews and surveys with 10 participants, I explored how people share personal moments online and how they feel about privacy. Users consistently expressed discomfort with public social media, citing overexposure and a lack of control. Many still value digital connection but want it in a secure, intimate environment where they can share without fear of unwanted visibility.

From these conversations, I identified patterns in their motivations, needs, goals, and pain points when sharing personal content online.

Needs:

a secure, invite-only app for posting photos; the ability to revisit past posts; simple, intuitive upload and viewing experience

Goals:

create a safe space for digital intimacy; make it effortless to share with family and close friends; provide an organized archive for past posts and memories

Pain Points:

public platforms feel intrusive; manual one-by-one sharing is time-consuming; lack of tools designed for family-only content; privacy settings on mainstream apps are confusing or insufficient

Motivations:

connecting privately with loved ones; preserving family memories; avoiding the noise and judgment of public platforms; sharing life events in a safe space

Competitive Research Summary

To understand the market for Lovers Lane, I conducted a SWOT analysis of three major competitors: Been Together, 1 Second Everyday, and Journey.

Key Findings:

Strengths: Competitors excel at emotional storytelling, habit-forming media, and niche appeal for couples or memory-focused users. Many leverage simple designs, multimedia journaling, or guided prompts to foster connection.
Weaknesses: Gaps include limited collaboration tools, stagnant features, unclear emotional archiving, and a lack of modern UX updates.
Opportunities: Growing demand for private, shared memory spaces; advances in GPS/mapping, AI video editing, and emotion-driven tagging; rising interest in emotional wellness and reflection.
Threats: Competition from social media and therapy/wellness apps, subscription fatigue, and the challenge of staying relevant in a crowded memory-keeping market.

Insight: There’s a clear opening for a secure, family-only sharing app that combines the intimacy of private memory-keeping with the ease of social media, making it simple to share life moments without sacrificing privacy.

The Memory Keeper

The Private Sharer

The Sentimental Organizer

Maya Thompson

30, Oakland, CA, Married, Visual Storyteller/Freelance Designer

A sentimental creative who loves preserving meaningful memories and connecting with loved ones, Maya seeks a private, emotionally rich space away from the noise of public social media.

The Memory Keeper
Cherishes capturing life’s small moments and turning them into meaningful keepsakes.

The Private Sharer
Wants to share updates with loved ones without the noise or exposure of public platforms.

The Sentimental Organizer
Enjoys neatly storing and revisiting memories, but finds current tools cluttered or hard to navigate.