Inside Out

Inspiration

Inside/Out was born from something personal.

I often carry emotions in silence — not because they don’t matter, but because I feel they might be “too much”, or “not enough” to share. I’ve felt guilt, solitude, and the fear of burdening those I love. So I created the kind of space I wish I had during those moments.

A place where you can express what’s inside — without judgment, without interruption. Where AI doesn’t just generate, but listens. Responds. Reflects.

Inside/Out reclaims technology as a space for softness, slowness, and emotional presence. It’s not about what AI can do — it’s about what it can hold.

What it does

Inside/Out offers 3 experiences: • Dear… – Write a letter to yourself, someone else, or an emotion. The AI replies with a poetic mirror. • Mirror – Answer deep questions. The AI co-creates a reflective emotional portrait. • Pulse – Share a raw feeling. The AI transforms it into a generative visual landscape.

Each interaction is slow, intentional, and deeply personal. You can choose to keep or anonymously share your creation.

How we built it

I built a React-based web app with multiple modules using: • OpenAI GPT-4 for textual responses and emotional reflections • Custom prompts crafted to create a poetic, non-judgmental tone • Figma for design and user flows

Each interaction was designed to feel meaningful, not rushed — with custom UI elements and minimal distractions.

Challenges we ran into

• Crafting prompts that felt emotionally nuanced and consistent across different inputs • Designing a UX that encourages slowness and reflection, while staying intuitive • Managing time across 3 modules, each with their own flow • Finding the balance between structure and freedom in user input

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Created a working prototype with 3 distinct emotional experiences • Built a system that feels soft and human, despite being powered by AI • Designed modular interactions that can evolve independently • Created a space that people said they “wanted to stay in longer” — which, for me, means everything

What we learned

• Prompt writing is a form of storytelling — it shapes not just answers, but tone, atmosphere, and presence • Emotional UX design is different: it’s not about speed, but trust, space, and intention • I learned how to bring a creative vision to life — and give it form, flow, and emotion — in less than 48 hours

What's next for Inside Out

I want to: • Let people save and revisit their emotional portraits • Add voice input (via Whisper) and sound responses • Expand the collective wall into a visual archive of anonymous emotions • Explore therapeutic or artistic applications of Inside/Out beyond this prototype

Ultimately, I hope to keep building tools where tech becomes a companion, not just an engine.

Built With

• gpt4omini
• next