TYPE:
SWIFT PLAYGROUND APP
CLIENT:
APPLE WWDC25 SSC
YEAR:
2025
EXPERIENCE:
UX, SWIFT, STORYTELLING
Letters of Emotion
about.
Letters of Emotion is an iPad app built from scratch during the Apple Developer Academy Crash Course at ECOA PUC-Rio and submitted to the Apple WWDC 2025 Swift Student Challenge. It helps users navigate the complexities of written communication by crafting messages with the right tone and intent. Through interactive storytelling, it explores how emotions translate into words, fostering empathy and awareness of how messages are perceived across different relationships, generations, and emotional contexts.
challenge.
As my first Swift Playground, the challenge was to design an emotionally rich experience using only declarative UI. I had to balance narrative expression, technical learning, and a seamless interface — all from scratch. It was also essential to ensure that the narrative tone and interface design worked together to create an immersive and emotionally engaging experience, even within the constraints of Swift Playgrounds.
process.
I began with a mid-fidelity prototype in Figma, conducting multiple rounds of testing and iteration. After refining the structure, I moved to high-fidelity mockups and began coding in SwiftUI, while continuing usability tests in both Figma and Xcode.
To ensure a fully immersive experience, the app was tested on both 11” and 13” iPad Pro models. Feedback from peers led to targeted adjustments that improved clarity, flow, and emotional resonance. SwiftUI powered the interface, while AVFoundation enriched the storytelling with custom sound design.
The visual identity combined characters from Notion Faces, line-art illustrations adapted from Recraft.AI, and a paper-textured background from Freepik. Music composed by Universfield (via Pixabay) enhanced immersion and emotional depth. Each asset was carefully curated to align with the intended aesthetic and comply with licensing terms.
This iterative approach allowed the user experience, visual consistency, and technical development to evolve in parallel, resulting in a polished and emotionally engaging prototype.
results.
The result is an emotionally-aware messaging experience where users select phrases to compose letters to fictional characters. Dynamic tone feedback helps users reflect on how their words might be perceived across contexts like family, friendships, and generations.
This app marked a major personal milestone: my first time learning Swift and building a Playground App. Beyond the challenge, it deepened my commitment to emotional UX and inspired future research and design directions.
If you’d like to see more of this project, you can watch the demo.
