Person

2026

The Archive

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.

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. 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

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”

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.

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 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

Explorative

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.

© 2026 Maika Sacerdote

It didn’t exist a place to find photographers