2026
The Archive
The Archive
WHERE IMAGES CONNECT PEOPLE
WHERE IMAGES CONNECT PEOPLE
UX / UI
About
The Archive is a curated platform designed to help people find their ideal photographer based on style, location, availability, and price. It acts as both a discovery tool and a space of inspiration, connecting visual seekers with photographers through shared aesthetic sensibilities.
THE BEGGINING
I developed this project over 4.5 weeks, starting from a personal interest in photography and noticing a lack of platforms where photographers are meaningfully showcased.
About
The Archive is a curated platform designed to help people find their ideal photographer based on style, location, availability, and price. It acts as both a discovery tool and a space of inspiration, connecting visual seekers with photographers through shared aesthetic sensibilities.
APPROACH
I developed this project over 4.5 weeks, starting from a personal interest in photography and noticing a lack of platforms where photographers are meaningfully showcased. This led me to explore how a single platform could better support both photographers and people looking to hire one.
Original Idea
CONNECTING PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH EDITORIAL DESIGNERS
The project initially explored how to connect photographers with editorial designers, inspired by the idea that many photographers create personal photobooks but lack the time or design expertise to execute them.
Research & Insights
FINDING A PHOTOGRAPHER IS A NEED, NOT A LUXURY
Through interviews with photographers and designers, a key insight emerged: there was a stronger demand for people to find the right photographer than for photographers to find designers.
Key Moment
A REAL-WORLD VALIDATION OF THE PROBLEM
Shortly after conducting interviews, a real-life example reinforced the insight: a user posted on Instagram looking for a photographer, specifying aesthetic sensibility over experience.
Competitive Audit
INSPIRATION EXISTS. HIRING EXISTS. BUT NOT BOTH TOGETHER.
Platforms like Vimeo and Behance focus on showcasing creative work, while services like Snappr focus on hiring photographers. Others, like Glass, emphasize inspiration. However, none combine discovery, inspiration, and hiring in a single, cohesive experience.
Opportunity
A PLATFORM THAT COMBINES DISCOVERY AND HIRING
The opportunity was to create a platform that allows users to both discover photographers through visual exploration and seamlessly connect with them. The Archive positions itself between inspiration platforms and service marketplaces.
Concept
A VISUAL-FIRST WAY TO FIND PHOTOGRAPHERS
The Archive transforms the process of finding a photographer into a visual journey. Instead of relying solely on filters, users navigate through curated imagery, discovering photographers through shared aesthetic sensibilities
Original Idea
CONNECTING PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH EDITORIAL DESIGNERS
The project initially explored how to connect photographers with editorial designers, inspired by the idea that many photographers create personal photobooks but lack the time or design expertise to execute them. The goal was to bridge that gap through collaboration.
The project initially explored how to connect photographers with editorial designers, inspired by the idea that many photographers create personal photobooks but lack the time or design expertise to execute them. The goal was to bridge that gap through collaboration.
Research & Insights
FINDING A PHOTOGRAPHER IS A NEED, NOT A LUXURY
Through interviews with photographers and designers, a key insight emerged: there was a stronger demand for people to find the right photographer than for photographers to find designers. While photobook creation was perceived as a luxury, finding a photographer was a real and frequent need.
Through interviews with photographers and designers, a key insight emerged: there was a stronger demand for people to find the right photographer than for photographers to find designers. While photobook creation was perceived as a luxury, finding a photographer was a real and frequent need.
It doesn't exist a place to find photographers
Junior photographers don’t have a place where to find jobs
Photographers show their work through instagram
Some have their own web pages
It doesn't exist a place to find photographers
Junior photographers don’t have a place where to find jobs
Photographers show their work through instagram
Some have their own web pages
It doesn't exist a place to find photographers
Junior photographers don’t have a place where to find jobs
Photographers show their work through instagram
Some have their own web pages
Key Moment
A REAL-WORLD VALIDATION OF THE PROBLEM
Shortly after conducting interviews, a real-life example reinforced the insight: a user posted on Instagram looking for a photographer, specifying aesthetic sensibility over experience. This moment validated the need for a platform centered around visual compatibility.
Shortly after conducting interviews, a real-life example reinforced the insight: a user posted on Instagram looking for a photographer, specifying aesthetic sensibility over experience. This moment validated the need for a platform centered around visual compatibility.
“People in Cordoba,
I am looking for a photographer with good eye (with or without experience) for content creation in social media”
“People in Cordoba, I am looking for a photographer with good eye (with or without experience) for content creation in social media”
Competitive Audit
INSPIRATION EXISTS. HIRING EXISTS. BUT NOT BOTH TOGETHER.
Platforms like Vimeo and Behance focus on showcasing creative work, while services like Snappr focus on hiring photographers. Others, like Glass, emphasize inspiration. However, none combine discovery, inspiration, and hiring in a single, cohesive experience.
Platforms like Vimeo and Behance focus on showcasing creative work, while services like Snappr focus on hiring photographers. Others, like Glass, emphasize inspiration. However, none combine discovery, inspiration, and hiring in a single, cohesive experience.
Opportunity
A PLATFORM THAT COMBINES DISCOVERY AND HIRING
The opportunity was to create a platform that allows users to both discover photographers through visual exploration and seamlessly connect with them. The Archive positions itself between inspiration platforms and service marketplaces.
The opportunity was to create a platform that allows users to both discover photographers through visual exploration and seamlessly connect with them. The Archive positions itself between inspiration platforms and service marketplaces.
Concept
A VISUAL-FIRST WAY TO FIND PHOTOGRAPHERS
The Archive transforms the process of finding a photographer into a visual journey. Instead of relying solely on filters, users navigate through curated imagery, discovering photographers through shared aesthetic sensibilities
The Archive transforms the process of finding a photographer into a visual journey. Instead of relying solely on filters, users navigate through curated imagery, discovering photographers through shared aesthetic sensibilities
System Thinking
DESIGNING FOR TWO TYPE OF USERS
The platform was designed to support two main user groups: photographers and clients. I created system map to understand how both journeys interact, ensuring a seamless connection between discovery, profile creation, and contact.
System Thinking
DESIGNING FOR TWO TYPE OF USERS
The platform was designed to support two main user groups: photographers and clients. I created system map to understand how both journeys interact, ensuring a seamless connection between discovery, profile creation, and contact.
The platform was designed to support two main user groups: photographers and clients. I created system map to understand how both journeys interact, ensuring a seamless connection between discovery, profile creation, and contact.
User Journey
FROM DISCOVERY TO CONNECTION
User journeys were developed for both photographers and seekers to visualize the full experience—from awareness and exploration to contact and post-shoot interaction. This helped identify key touchpoints and moments of friction.
User Journey
FROM DISCOVERY TO CONNECTION
User journeys were developed for both photographers and seekers to visualize the full experience—from awareness and exploration to contact and post-shoot interaction. This helped identify key touchpoints and moments of friction.
User journeys were developed for both photographers and seekers to visualize the full experience—from awareness and exploration to contact and post-shoot interaction. This helped identify key touchpoints and moments of friction.
Exploration & Iteration
FROM SKETCHES TO STRUCTURE
Initial sketches and wireframes explored different ways of structuring the platform, including filters, profiles, and navigation. Feedback highlighted the need for simplicity, clearer guidance, and a more focused user flow
Initial sketches and wireframes explored different ways of structuring the platform, including filters, profiles, and navigation. Feedback highlighted the need for simplicity, clearer guidance, and a more focused user flow
Customized
Customized
Explorative
Explorative
Social
Social
Branding
AN ANALOG IDENTITY FOR A DIGITAL ARCHIVE
The branding draws inspiration from physical archives, using textures, typography, and color to evoke a tactile, editorial feel. The goal was to balance nostalgia with a contemporary digital experience.
The branding draws inspiration from physical archives, using textures, typography, and color to evoke a tactile, editorial feel. The goal was to balance nostalgia with a contemporary digital experience.
Branding
AN ANALOG IDENTITY FOR A DIGITAL ARCHIVE
The branding draws inspiration from physical archives, using textures, typography, and color to evoke a tactile, editorial feel. The goal was to balance nostalgia with a contemporary digital experience.
Exploration & Iteration
FROM SKETCHES TO STRUCTURE
Initial sketches and wireframes explored different ways of structuring the platform, including filters, profiles, and navigation. Feedback highlighted the need for simplicity, clearer guidance, and a more focused user flow
© 2026 Maika Sacerdote
© 2026 Maika Sacerdote
It didn’t exist a place to find photographers