Noto
Designed a minimalist note taking app designed to support quiet self-reflection and personal growth
OVERVIEW
My responsibility was to research the current landscape of note-taking apps, explore innovative alternatives, and design an exhibition showcasing our conceptual direction for the 2025 UW Design Show.
My responsibility was to research the current landscape of note-taking apps, explore innovative alternatives, and design an exhibition showcasing our conceptual direction for the 2025 UW Design Show.
TIMELINE
10 Weeks
ROLE
Product Design
Visual Design
Interaction Design
10 Weeks
ROLE
Product Design
Visual Design
Interaction Design
TEAM
David Robles, Co-Founder
Elisha Jeon, Co-Founder
David Robles, Co-Founder
Elisha Jeon, Co-Founder
The Challenge
Break free from shallow, overly-templated note-taking apps and reimagine a journaling app that feels personal and reflective
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Rethinking the note-taking experience
“Messy, cluttered, not optimized, too much.” These were common frustrations voiced by 19 participants in our research study, when asked what their frustrations were with note-taking apps. The current paradigm of note-taking apps often rely on rigid templates and over-structured formats.
Elsiha and I were driven by a shared curiosity: What could the future of note-taking look like if it prioritized understanding over structure? We set out to explore a more human and intuitive approach to journaling.
“Messy, cluttered, not optimized, too much.” These were common frustrations voiced by 19 participants in our research study, when asked what their frustrations were with note-taking apps. The current paradigm of note-taking apps often rely on rigid templates and over-structured formats.
Elsiha and I were driven by a shared curiosity: What could the future of note-taking look like if it prioritized understanding over structure? We set out to explore a more human and intuitive approach to journaling.
The Concept
A note-taking app that captures your entries and turns them into snapshots of your growth, thoughts, and patterns
A note-taking app that captures your entries and turns them into snapshots of your growth, thoughts, and patterns
Turning everyday writing into self-understanding
Most journaling tools stop at storage — a place to dump thoughts and move on. We saw an opportunity to change that by creating a notebook that understands you. With AI, your daily entries — to-dos, mind dumps, passing thoughts — become more than just words. Noto uncovers patterns, habits, and recurring reflections to help you see who you are, and how you’re evolving.
Each session adds to a living snapshot of your mindset, which updates as you do. You can even revisit past personas by month to reflect on growth over time — a quiet mirror for your inner life.
Most journaling tools stop at storage — a place to dump thoughts and move on. We saw an opportunity to change that by creating a notebook that understands you. With AI, your daily entries — to-dos, mind dumps, passing thoughts — become more than just words. Noto uncovers patterns, habits, and recurring reflections to help you see who you are, and how you’re evolving.
Each session adds to a living snapshot of your mindset, which updates as you do. You can even revisit past personas by month to reflect on growth over time — a quiet mirror for your inner life.