The Cake We Ate, the Cake We Captured: A UX Designer’s Exploration of Sensory Memory and User Experience

As a UX designer, I often think about what makes an experience truly memorable and satisfying for a user. Ironically, my latest insight didn’t come from a user study or a wireframe—it came from a cake. This wasn’t just any cake, either. It was a beautiful, tantalizing creation, so irresistible that the idea of taking a photo was forgotten as soon as I picked up my fork. By the time I thought of capturing it, the cake was half-eaten, and all that remained was a sense of pure satisfaction.

In retrospect, it was an ideal reminder of the tension between sight and sensation—a tension we UX designers must navigate in every experience we create. It made me wonder: do we, as creators of digital and physical experiences, often fall into the trap of designing for what users see and record instead of what they feel and remember?

The Sight-Centered User Experience

When I scroll through my phone, I find pictures of countless cakes, each perfectly staged and visually appealing. Yet, I struggle to remember the taste of most of them. These images are empty containers of experience; they give me visual cues but lack the depth of sensory memory. The user experience here is about preservation, not presence. Users engage with these photos as reminders, not as complete experiences.

In UX design, we often design for this very effect: visuals are strategically crafted to catch the eye, align with the brand, and fit neatly into social feeds. These elements drive the “capture” experience, where the user feels compelled to take a photo and share it, even if they might not remember the details of the experience later. It’s a trend we’ve encouraged, feeding into a sight-first approach that asks, “How will this look?” rather than “How will this feel?” The result is often engaging but ultimately fleeting.

Designing for Sensory Memory: The Cake We Couldn’t Photograph

The cake I couldn’t wait to eat, on the other hand, lived on in my sensory memory in a way that a photo never could. I can recall its flavor, texture, and even the satisfaction it gave me far more vividly than any picture on my phone. It’s a memory created not by how the cake looked but by how it felt to eat it, an experience that wasn’t for sharing but for savoring.

In UX design, this is what we call a “sticky experience,” something that leaves a lasting impact. It’s a principle that goes beyond sight and taps into the multi-sensory, emotional engagement we seek to create for users. The challenge lies in capturing that intangible essence, designing experiences that invite users to fully immerse themselves rather than just skim the surface. It’s about asking, “How does this interaction feel?” and “How will users remember this?”

The User Researcher’s Perspective: Understanding the Real Needs

From a research perspective, the story of these two cakes illustrates the importance of understanding users’ deeper needs beyond what’s easily measurable. Users may tell us they want “pretty” interfaces, “seamless” transitions, and “easy” navigation, but what they remember, what truly resonates, are the experiences that connect with them on a personal, even sensory level.

In observing user behavior, I’ve noticed that while people may prioritize aesthetics and functionality, the experiences they cherish most are often those they can “feel.” Whether it’s the satisfying haptic feedback of a physical button, the warmth of a custom thank-you message, or the comforting tone of a conversational interface, these are the moments users remember. It’s a reminder that user experience is not just about the path to completion but about the feeling of engagement along that path.

The UX Design Challenge: Designing Beyond the Frame

As UX designers and researchers, we are tasked with bridging the gap between sight-based interactions and sensory, emotional ones. The cake I couldn’t photograph challenges me to create experiences that live beyond the digital “capture.” It reminds me to design moments that users carry with them not as pictures on their phones but as rich, memorable experiences stored in their minds.

One practical approach is to consider multi-sensory design, even in digital spaces: small, intentional interactions that invite a deeper engagement. For instance, subtle animations, sounds, or haptic feedback can add layers to an experience that visuals alone cannot achieve. Similarly, designing for presence rather than capture can shift users from the mindset of consumption to connection. In this way, a digital product can become more like the cake that leaves a lasting sensory memory—not because it was seen, but because it was truly experienced.

In the End: UX as Sensory Storytelling

The cake that exists only in my memory and not in my phone reminds me of an essential truth in UX design: that the most impactful experiences are those that go beyond what we see and touch upon what we feel. It’s the difference between creating an interface and crafting an experience, between filling a screen and filling a mind. And perhaps, it’s a reminder that not all memories are meant to be captured in pixels—some, like the perfect bite of cake, are best remembered in the heart and senses, an experience that, even without a photo, we carry with us always.

As UX designers, our role is to understand and harness this truth: to create moments that last, not just through sight, but through the depth of the experience itself.