In this new Get Inspired series, I want to highlight products that move me, the kind of projects that remind you what’s possible when design, emotion, and technology come together thoughtfully.
They might not be the biggest startups or the trendiest tools, but each of them brings something real to the digital world: connection, nostalgia, simplicity, or pure joy.
Here are five of my favorites.
Postcrossing: Bringing postcards back
Postcrossing is one of those rare projects that captures the essence of what the internet once promised: to connect people meaningfully across the world.
It’s a global community where you send and receive postcards from random people in different countries. I've been part of it for over a decade and sent and collected almost 100 postcards myself.
You don’t need likes, followers, or a profile feed, just a moment of human exchange, one handwritten message at a time.
It’s simple, sincere, and beautifully designed around the act of waiting, something our current digital rhythm almost forgot. I love how it transforms something as old-fashioned as postcards into a living, global network of small joys.
Why it's inspiring: It reminds me that creativity isn’t always about inventing something new. Sometimes it’s about bringing warmth back to what we’ve lost.
Slowly App: Modern pen pals for a fast world
Slowly feels like a quiet rebellion against instant messaging.
You write letters that take hours or even days to arrive, depending on the distance between you and your pen pal.
It’s a beautifully slow digital experience intentionally designed to make you wait.
What I love about Slowly is how it blends nostalgia with technology so gracefully.
The design is soft, the letters feel personal, and the pace gives space for deeper thought. The kind of reflection that’s rare in most apps today.
Why it's inspiring: It proves that slowing down can be a feature, not a flaw.
Poolsuite: A summer that never ends
Poolsuite (formerly known as Poolside FM) is pure nostalgia in pixel form.
It’s a music player that looks like an old Mac interface from the 90s, filled with upbeat summer tunes and pastel vibes.
It doesn’t take itself too seriously and that’s exactly why it works.
Every detail, from the loading bar to the fake desktop icons, feels crafted with love and humor.
It’s not trying to be efficient or practical; it’s just trying to make you feel good.
Why it's inspiring: It shows how playfulness and aesthetic joy can be just as powerful as utility.
FutureMe: Letters to your future self
FutureMe lets you write a letter to your future self and choose when it will be delivered; a month, a year, or even a decade later.
It’s such a simple idea, yet profoundly emotional. There’s something timeless about writing to yourself, capturing who you are right now and giving your future self a small time capsule of thoughts and dreams.
It’s both personal and universal, and the interface stays refreshingly minimal, nothing distracts from the writing itself.
Why it's inspiring: It brings introspection and emotion into the digital world, in the most human way possible.
Neal-fun: Playful curiosity at its best
Neal.fun is a small universe of web experiments built by a single creator, Neal Agarwal.
Each mini-project explores something interesting, from history and science to humor and art, all through simple, interactive design.
What stands out is how effortlessly curious these projects feel. There’s no signup, no monetization, no clutter, just joyful play with information.
It’s what the internet used to be: weird, creative, and endlessly fascinating.
Why it's inspiring: It celebrates curiosity itself, a reminder that learning and fun can exist side by side.
Closing thoughts
These projects might look simple at first glance but their emotional impact is huge.
They make us pause, smile, reflect, and connect. Things we often forget while chasing productivity or scale.
I believe the future of creative technology will belong to ideas that make people feel something.
That’s why we want to celebrate them, to remind ourselves (and others) that even a small, thoughtful project can inspire the world in quiet ways.
If you have a favorite product that made you pause, smile, or feel inspired, send it our way: info@noecrafts.com
We’d love to include it in the next Get Inspired series.
