This project was inspired by a piece created by Caitlyn Phu. While I am not speaking for her interpretation, my personal view of her work led me to a powerful idea, a kind of emotional “this or that” exchange, where memories, relationships, and life experiences are placed on an imaginary scale and evaluated by their weight.

The premise is simple, but the meaning became deep quickly. By framing memories as items that can be “traded,” the interface forces the viewer to confront what they value, what they cling to, and what they would never give up, even hypothetically. Some trades feel easy. Others feel impossible. And some are denied altogether because certain things in life cannot be replaced or exchanged.

What began as a visual concept became a reflection on my own life. I started questioning how much specific experiences “weigh,” what they cost me, and what they gave me in return. The more I explored it, the more clear it became: this is not really a game, but a conversation with myself. A way to map meaning, grief, love, and memory onto a system that exposes what I hold closest.

As a woman who is logic driven, I found this to be the most effective way to turn something so beyond emotional into a mathematical equation. I have never found such deep reflection of my own life before. I am not one to overshare on the internet and I am especially picky about what photos of me are on the internet, but this project felt so meaningful that I had to share it with real exmaples and real emotions in mind. I hope this little project can help others reflect on their life aswell.

TLDR: This project represents that internal negotiation. It is an attempt to understand my life by placing its moments side by side, comparing them, trading them, and realizing what they’re worth.