Circles Redesigned
An app for close friends who enjoy capturing and sharing group photos of their milestones and adventures.
- MOBILE INTERFACE
Role
- UX/UI Designer
Tools
- Figma
- After Effects
Timeline
Aug → Aug 2025
introduction
In today’s digital age, sharing moments with friends has become increasingly fragmented across multiple social platforms. While we can instantly share photos with hundreds of followers, the intimate experience of sharing memories with our closest friends often gets lost in the noise.
Circles is a mobile app that simplifies and enriches private photo sharing for close-knit groups. With features like group albums, easy uploads, and intuitive navigation, Circles prioritizes privacy, quality, and genuine connection over virality.
My redesign focused on strengthening Circles’ brand identity and improving usability to better reflect these values.
challenge
Users highlighted several frustrations with existing photo-sharing tools: images often lost quality when sent through messaging apps, sharing was scattered across multiple platforms, and many felt uneasy putting personal moments in public spaces.
The original Circles design didn’t fully convey the clarity, warmth, and trust needed to make it the preferred platform for private, meaningful sharing.
design goals
The redesign aimed to create a visual identity that communicates warmth, trust, and intimacy. Improving usability and navigation was also essential to make sharing effortless, while building a scalable design system would support future growth and consistency.
brand identity
The redesign aimed to create a visual identity that communicates warmth, trust, and intimacy. Improving usability and navigation was also essential to make sharing effortless, while building a scalable design system would support future growth and consistency.
UI Improvements
Circles’ UI was simplified with a clearer hierarchy and card-based layouts. A tab bar was designed for quick access to Home, Create, and Profile, and typography and spacing were improved for accessibility and readability.
Typography
Typography was refreshed, moving from DM Sans to Agrandir. While DM Sans offered simplicity, it felt too restrained for Circles’ friendly and intimate brand. Agrandir’s playful curves and modern forms introduce warmth and approachability, better reflecting the app’s mission of fostering genuine, close-knit connections.
old
after
Reflection
Redesigning Circles highlighted the need to design for both function and emotion. Beyond usability, the app had to convey trust, belonging, and intimacy—qualities that distinguish it from other social platforms.
