Drift
An Imaginative Dream Experience
3 days - FigBuild 2025 Designathon
Figjam, Figma, Photoshop
Woohee Byun, Alex Thummalapalli, Karissa Wong, Ana Lac
Product Strategy, Speculative UX
Overview
As part of a speculative design challenge, Drift imagines dreams as portals and considers how connection might exist in a world of fantasy.
WHY IT MATTERS
Sleep and connection are both in decline
Dreaming is one of the last unfiltered spaces, and Drift turns it into a shared medium.
Some of the research behind this problem is alarming:
50%
of Americans report loneliness, showing a steep decline in social connection.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023
74%
of Americans get 8+ hours of sleep, while 20% get five or less.
Gallup, 2023
33%
of adults face chronic sleep deprivation, weakening social bonds and health.
CDC, 2022
If sleep is where we disconnect, can it also be where we come back together?
Defining Users
Who are we
solving for?
After reviewing the research we gathered, the next step was to look deeper into who we were solving these design issues for.
Audience Profile
People separated by distance or time
Drift is designed for long-distance couples, digital-native friends, and lucid dreamers who want more meaningful connection.
USER JOURNEY
A long-distance dream date
May, in California, schedules a dream with Ben in New York. They meet on a dream beach, build a sandcastle, and explore snowy mountains. The next morning, a photo from their dream appears in her gallery.
SOLUTION
Turn lucid dreams into shared experiences
Drift is a concept app that lets users plan, enter, and remember shared dreams with trusted people. It blends intentional sleep with imaginative connection.
Smart Scheduling
Make time
for each other
Coordinate dream sessions with trusted contacts through
easy, simple scheduling.
The app handles the logistics
so users can focus fully
on connection, not complexity.
Dream Interface
Move through magic
Once dreaming, users navigate using simple gestures like swiping or tapping.
The interface stays minimal and unobtrusive, displaying key info like dream time, location, and connection status without breaking immersion.
DREAM GALLERY
Wake up
with a memory
After waking, users receive a curated recap of their dream experience.
Photos taken in-dream appear in a personal gallery, like souvenirs from another world.
EDGE CASE
Trusted connections only
To prevent unwanted interactions, users can only add people they know offline. Friend requests require a shareable dreamer code, which can be revoked at any time.
Built with Care
Designed for safety, balance, and accessibility
Requires mutual consent through friend codes
Built-in limits to prevent overuse or dependence
Gesture-based UI with future plans for audio and multilingual support
Final Reflection
Drift reimagines rest as connection
This project explores how sleep could become a space for presence and intimacy. \
By combining speculative tech with emotional design, Drift offers a peaceful way to feel close—even from afar.
FINAL TAKEAWAYS
What I Learned
Designing features that truly resonate with users is challenging and requires constant refinement.
The process is not always linear. Ideas evolve, change, and sometimes fail before they succeed.
Balancing functionality and engagement takes trial and error, but each iteration brings new clarity.
When the process is enjoyable, the final product will reflect that energy.
In the meantime,
check out this project
Dentsu
Designing for Global Digital Experiences
In the meantime,
check out this project
Dentsu
Designing for Global Digital Experiences
Drift
An Imaginative Dream Experience
3 days - FigBuild 2025 Designathon
Figjam, Figma, Photoshop
Woohee Byun, Alex Thummalapalli, Karissa Wong, Ana Lac
Product Strategy, Interaction Design, Speculative UX
Overview
As part of a speculative design challenge, Drift imagines dreams as portals and considers how connection might exist in a world of fantasy.
Sleep and connection are both in decline
WHY IT MATTERS
Dreaming is one of the last unfiltered spaces, and Drift turns it into a shared medium.
Some of the research behind this problem is alarming:
50%
of Americans report loneliness, showing a steep decline in social connection.
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023)
74%
of Americans get 8+ hours of sleep, while 20% get five or less.
(Gallup, 2023)
33%
of adults face chronic sleep deprivation, weakening social bonds and health.
(CDC, 2022)
If sleep is where we disconnect, can it also be where we come back together?
Who are we solving for?
Defining Users
After reviewing the research we gathered, the next step was to look deeper into who we were solving these design issues for.
People separated by distance or time
Audience Profile
Drift is designed for long-distance couples, digital-native friends, and lucid dreamers who want more meaningful connection.
USER JOURNEY
A long-distance dream date
May, in California, schedules a dream with Ben in New York. They meet on a dream beach, build a sandcastle, and explore snowy mountains. The next morning, a photo from their dream appears in her gallery.
Turn lucid dreams into shared experiences
Solution
Drift is a concept app that lets users plan, enter, and remember shared dreams with trusted people. It blends intentional sleep with imaginative connection.
Make time
for each other
Smart Scheduling
Coordinate dream sessions with trusted contacts through
easy, simple scheduling.
The app handles the logistics
so users can focus fully
on connection, not complexity.
Move through magic
Dream Interface
Once dreaming, users navigate using simple gestures like swiping or tapping.
The interface stays minimal and unobtrusive, displaying key info like dream time, location, and connection status without breaking immersion.
Wake up
with a memory
Dream Gallery
After waking, users receive a curated recap of their dream experience.
Photos taken in-dream appear in a personal gallery, like souvenirs from another world.
Trusted connections only
Edge Case
To prevent unwanted interactions, users can only add people they know offline. Friend requests require a shareable dreamer code, which can be revoked or refreshed at any time.
Designed for safety, balance, and accessibility
Built with Care
Requires mutual consent through friend codes
Built-in limits to prevent overuse or dependence
Gesture-based UI with future plans for audio and multilingual support
Drift reimagines rest as connection
Final Reflection
This project explores how sleep could become a space for presence and intimacy. By combining speculative tech with emotional design, Drift offers a peaceful way to feel close—even from afar.
Designing features that truly resonate with users is challenging and requires constant refinement.
The process is not always linear. Ideas evolve, change, and sometimes fail before they succeed.
Balancing functionality and engagement takes trial and error, but each iteration brings new clarity.
When the process is enjoyable, the final product will reflect that energy.
What I Learned
Final Takeaways
Want to learn more?
Reach out to learn more about the process!
Request Full Case Study
In the meantime,
check out this project
