POOM

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
Through user research, I discovered that people wanted to express gratitude, but they faced challenges in the next step. Users preferred to compose messages themselves rather than rely on AI. Additionally, they didn’t believe that expensive gifts could serve as perfect expressions of gratitude.

To address these challenges, I conducted IDI. From this process, I found that what users truly value are ‘sincerity’ and ‘authenticity’. Based on these insights, POOM introduced a feature that incorporates heart-warming messages from others directly into response message card. This approach ensures that users can convey how much those messages, which they have cherished and preserved, mean to them.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
My personal highlight in the process was the moment of POOM’s initial idea started. Actually, all of the process was so precious for me.

While I collect heart-warming messages, I realized that simply revisiting messages brought a positive shift in my mindset.

When I shared this idea for a service, I received feedback saying, “This is a story only you can tell.” That moment gave me the confidence that what started as a simple thought could evolve into a meaningful design project.

The process of designing POOM was a precious experience for me, as it went beyond solving functional and UX-side problems. I learned to deeply explore what people genuinely desire, and apply it to service.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
In the next five years, I hope POOM will be remembered as one of my first projects that truly embodied heartwarming design. I believe POOM is a project with continuous potential for growth and the ability to bring positive impact to even more people.

Through this project, I discovered people’s often-hidden longing for kindness and warmth, and gave me the opportunity to deeply explore on what people genuinely desire. Moving forward, I aspire to create designs like POOM that foster meaningful and authentical connections between people and the world.

I believe that for the world to become a warmer place, kindness is essential. As a designer, I want to embody this belief in my work and contribute to creating positive change.