APP LAUNCH
MOBILE
UI DESIGN
UX DESIGN
RAPID PROTOTYPING
MVP STAGE
Haru
Collaborated with a software engineer to design and launch the Haru app, aimed at users focus on their day, find meaning in daily conversations, and improve mental well-being. By sharing thoughts and organizing routines before bed, users can reduce their concerns and gain clarity.
As Lead Designer, I defined the meaning of everyday communication and led the UX strategy to create a consistent, intuitive experience that fosters meaningful connections. I designed seamless user flows for daily journaling, reflecting on the day, selecting prompts, and connecting with like-minded individuals.
Co-Founder | Lead Designer | Lead Product Manager | UX Flow | Wireframing | UIUX Design
Figma | Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator | Apple Beta
April 2024 - Sep 2024 (6 Months)
Sharing thoughts bring powerful emotional relief –
It's the first step to understanding and connection.
Modern individuals experience a wide range of emotions every day, but often lack someone to share or empathize with them. As online platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok grew, the MZ generation began to openly share their concerns anonymously on social media. They started to share their stories through similar content, discussing their worries, exchanging advice, and connecting.
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However, people want to share their changing emotions and concerns every day.
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We want to talk about different topics each day and find common ground while reflecting on our daily experiences.
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To address this, I created an app that allows users to record their emotions for the day and connect with others who share similar interests or topics.
🎯 Goals
Help people create a space where users could naturally connect with someone they want to talk to, based on the ever-changing topics of conversation.
Although it may not solve all problems, simply opening up and talking can help alleviate frustration.
HMW design a space where people can record their concerns and express their feelings openly, helping to reduce frustration and promote emotional relief?
Introducing Haru,
Connect through daily reflections and prompts
Haru helps users connect through daily reflections, offering personalized prompts to record their emotions, share experiences, and engage in meaningful conversations with others on the same topic, all within a safe, low-pressure environment.
📌 Core Values (WHY)
Creating meaningful connections
Haru fulfills the unmet need for emotional sharing that existing dating apps and social media fail to address, while restoring the value of conversations between people.
Building a Habit of Reflection
We can record a day without meanings, but there are many things we miss in the process.
Haru provides a space to pause, reflect, and freely express emotions. It makes journaling effortless, helping users organize their day and start conversations based on topics.
Meaning of Everyday Conversations
Journals are hard to start writing, especially when every day feels the same.
Providing daily prompts, users can naturally record their lives and share their thoughts and interests.
Topic-Based Connections
Traditional matching apps focus on profiles and photos
Haru centers around a user's day and experiences on each day. Users are matched based on shared topics for the day, enabling spontaneous and meaningful conversations.
✅ Key Features (HOW)
Journaling – Establishing the Habit of Recording Your Day
Helps users record their day without hesitation by offering guiding questions that make journaling effortless
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Make Journaling Not to Hard → Providing prompts and allow for short and simple entries rather than requiring lengthy diaries.
Prompt-Based Matching – Finding People You Want to Talk to Today
After users complete 3 journal entries, they can match with people who share an interest in the same daily prompt
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Connect Journaling to Conversation → Make it easy for users to transition from journaling to chatting.
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Opt-in Matching → Users are not forced to connect but can choose to match with someone based on their journal entry.
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Consider Emotions and Topics → Haru recommends matches who can empathize and share similar topics.
Daily Chat System – Conversations Last Only You Are Active
To prevent endless conversations and maintain focus, chats are limited to when the users are live
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Focus on Today’s Conversation → Set a time limit to focus on the "topic of the day" rather than endless conversation.
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Encourage New Matches → After the chat ends, encourage users to start a new conversation with a different topic.
🎨 Brand Identity
Dream (A Midsummer Night's Dream) | Magical Conch Shell | My Own Space
Logo Concept
Color Pallete
Logo
Logo Initial Sketches
Logo Refined Explorations
Moodboard
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Takeaways
This project all started with me — what I truly wanted in an app. Every persona, target audience, and the main goals were shaped by my own perspective and vision.
WHAT I LEARNED
Building a sustainable business and getting users to return regularly is a challenge. The hardest part was believing in the long-term success of the idea.
Working on Haru, I learned that when collaborating with engineers, as long as the problem is clearly defined and we can present a persuasive solution, it's not impossible to implement. During the MVP stage, the main focus is on solving the problem, and this experience showed me that execution becomes achievable once the core problem and the best solution are understood.
Moving beyond just the act of journaling, I learned the true value of it—what users gain from it, what keeps them journaling consistently, and how to define the true meaning of journaling. The process of building a clear product vision and positioning it for users taught me how to approach the project with a broader perspective, ensuring that every aspect of the app resonates with its core purpose.
WHAT'S NEXT?
My next steps will be conducting user testing and developing a business strategy. I plan to launch the app into the real world, gather feedback, and continuously revise based on user input. I'll also focus on marketing to attract users.