Wish to Send is a digital letter-sending experience created as a space for remembrance and healing. Inspired by personal grief, it allows users to write and send messages to lost loved ones, embracing the idea of holding on, letting go, and finding closure through words. The project transforms digital communication into a reflective and emotional ritual, offering a quiet way to process loss and preserve memories.

Problem:

How do we express what is left unsaid when we can no longer reach the people we’ve lost?

Grief is complex and deeply personal—it doesn’t have a clear timeline, nor does it always find closure. When someone we love is gone, whether a person or a beloved pet, the words we wish we could say often remain unspoken. Wish to Send was born from my own experience with loss, particularly the passing of my cat. I struggled to process the grief, feeling the weight of unfinished thoughts and emotions. This project became a way to give form to that sorrow, creating a space where words, memories, and emotions could find a place to be acknowledged and released

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Process:

• Concept & Emotional Design:
  • Inspired by rituals of remembrance and letting go, such as burning offerings, floating paper boats, or writing letters never sent, I wanted to create a gentle, reflective space for users to engage in their own farewell rituals.
  • The design prioritizes slowness, intentionality, and mindfulness, offering an experience that contrasts the immediacy of most digital communication.
• User Experience & Interaction:
  • Developed an intuitive and poetic interface where users can write personal letters and choose a symbolic way to release them.
  • Designed five unique farewell interactions, each representing a different emotional response to loss:
    • 🔥 Burn – Watch the message turn into ashes, symbolizing transformation and release.
    • 💧 Wash – Let words dissolve, representing cleansing and renewal.
    • ☁️ Send to Heaven or Void– Release words without expectation, embracing the unknown beyond the physical world.
    • ✍️ Scratch It Out – Express frustration, regret, or the difficulty of saying goodbye.
  • Ensured that each action was designed to be intentional, mirroring the natural process of grief.
• Visual & Sensory Design:
  • Used soft, muted colors, gentle transitions, and handwritten-style typography to evoke a feeling of warmth, intimacy, and nostalgia.
  • Designed subtle animations to reinforce the weight and meaning of each interaction.
  • Included sensory feedback, such as the crackling of fire, the rippling of water, and the floating of text, to make the experience feel tangible.

Solution:

Wish to Send is an interactive digital ritual designed as a personal and reflective space for processing loss.

Unlike traditional digital messaging, which focuses on instant connection, this platform encourages slowing down, reflecting, and choosing how to let go. By transforming grief into a ritualistic experience, it allows users to engage with their emotions in a private, symbolic, and intentional way.

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Why It Matters:

Grief doesn’t have a straightforward path—it lingers, evolves, and needs spaces where it can be expressed. Wish to Send is my way of creating that space, a quiet corner of the digital world where people can hold on, let go, or simply acknowledge what was lost. It’s a love letter to memories, a ritual for closure, and a reminder that sometimes, sending words into the universe is enough.

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