Penny — Pen Pals, without the hassle.
Penny is a pen pal app that connects users through sending each other colorful collages, all done in the lens of a playfully medieval theme. Penny is not meant to be a full replacement for physical pen pal letter writing. Instead, it acts as a whimsical fusion of digital and physical— a love letter to letter writing.
Having started as an undergrad Capstone, Penny has evolved into an actively ongoing passion project.
Featured in the ITP/IMA 2025 Spring Show.
Role
Developer and Designer
Dates
January, 2025 - Present
Rediscover the fantastical world of pen pals with Penny!
View Penny’s Capstone Presentation.
Overview.
In an increasingly digitized world, more and more emphasis is being put on speed and ‘productivity’ — leading many to be put off by such a fast-paced communication cycle. Modern day social media has its merits, but reliance on these high-speed platforms can cause burnout and frustration.
Penny seeks to give users a platform of intentional slowness by embracing the technical nuances of letter-writing. After collaging together a digital letter for their pen pal, users must wait up to 5 days for their letter to be sent out — encouraging thoughtfulness and rest in these periods of transition.
Fully leaning into the romanticized letter-writing aesthetic, Penny has adopted a playfully medieval theme, encouraging users to send spirited and whimsical letters of their own.
