Interaction - Bachelor
Post Pal is a hybrid snail-mail platform that reimagines letter writing for the digital age. Centred on monthly themed challenges, it bridges digital and physical play, where kids design, create and exchange letters safely, with parents guiding approval and connection through integrated Parent Mode.
Today’s tweens are growing up in a world defined by constant connectivity yet limited creative depth. Too old for children’s platforms but too young for social media, many spend hours engaging in fast, image-based exchanges that offer little personal expression. Parents, meanwhile, navigate the pressures of digital parenting, balancing safety, privacy, and independence in an always-online environment (Fidan & Olur, 2023). In Australia, children aged 8–12 now average 20–25 hours of screen time per week (Fielding & Murcia, 2022).
I conducted white-paper research exploring how families nurture creativity and connection in an increasingly digital environment.
How might we design engaging, creative tools that use light digital interaction that balances safety, creativity, and discovery for tweens (8-12) seeking connection and expression?
To deepen these insights, I ran user testing sessions with five mothers and their daughters aged 8–12. Using affinity diagramming, I identified three recurring themes, which became the foundation of Post Pal’s dual-mode design.
To ground the design, two personas capture the needs of Post Pal’s core users:
Post Pal reimagines letter writing for the digital age, creating a safe, creative space where children can connect through monthly themed exchanges. The design features two modes — Child Mode for playful creation and Parent Mode for guidance and approval — blending digital interaction with the charm of tangible, handwritten mail.
Tahlia Chee is an Interaction Design and Marketing student passionate about creating meaningful, user-centred experiences. She combines creativity with strategy to design playful, purposeful, and empathetic interactions that foster connection, trust, and creativity in everyday life.