MoodSpace

Inspiration

As students who’ve juggled academic stress, isolation, and emotional ups and downs, we wished there were a space that understands us. MoodSpace was built to be that place - warm, adaptive, and human-first. We were especially inspired by: Mental health gaps among Gen Z, high school, and college students The growing popularity of self-care apps but a lack of personalization The effects of music, journaling, books, and affirmations in everyday emotional regulation

What it does

MoodSpace is a personalized emotional wellness companion powered by AI. It offers an experience that adapts to your emotional needs in real-time through music, affirmations, journaling, book therapy, or mood-based communities. Inspired by the emotional highs and lows we all experience—especially as students balancing stress, creativity, and connection—we created a space where users can reflect, express, and heal on their terms.

How we built it

Frontend: React.js, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, Canva, and Figma for design Backend: JavaScript API: Spotify API

Challenges we ran into

API Integration: Connecting the Spotify API and syncing mood-based playlists required handling authentication flow, token refreshes, and fine-tuning keyword matching from sentiment analysis. Time Constraints: With so many creative ideas—custom AI voices, book clubs, journaling prompts—we had to prioritize and make tough cuts to stay on track. We were all also in different time zones so it was definitely a struggle to cordinate meeting times.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Collaborative Design & Development: With a diverse team of thinkers, designers, and coders, we built something that feels thoughtful, inclusive, and real.

What we learned

Tech can be gentle. Creating emotionally sensitive applications requires both technical skill and empathy. Customization boosts connection. Letting users guide their experience (like choosing prompt tone or AI style) made the app more engaging. Collaboration matters. Everyone brought something different—whether it was emotional insight, technical skill, or artistic vision—and that made all the difference. Design for emotion, not just functionality. Soft colors, encouraging language, and intuitive layout all contributed to a more human-centered experience.