Texting has become our default mode of communication. What was once a call, voicemail or an email, arrive as text messages now in a matter of seconds. This convenience however, devolved our daily interaction by creating a habit of junk texts.

Haikumi, the first ever haiku-to-haiku messaging app, was created to promote anti-noise and thoughtfulness. Instead of mindlessly spamming each other, what if we took a beat, and wrote something thoughtful for someone we cared about?

Haikumi is an alternative to texting where users can participate in daily poetry by sending and receiving messages only in a 5-7-5 haiku format.

A haiku has an essence of circularity, it's very own 5-7-5 structure is a palindrome. This would influence the brand's DNA and user experience, both expressed in a clean, minimal aesthetic. An air of steadiness through symmetry.

We studied numerous instant messengers, texting behavior, palantir software visuals and riffed on the concept of peer-to-peer P2P. Plus it was really fun to think of haiku versions of common texts such as: U up? WTF LOL.

Haikumi was made in a creative incubator on a shoestring budget. Total budget was $10K USD. The launch film was shot for less than the Cannes Lion submission fee.

Haikumi is a messaging app that only sends and receives haiku.

As the creator, Albert Choi wanted to encourage thoughtful communication over vapid volume. This non-traditional messaging app turns the haiku (3 lines, 5-7-5 syllabic structure) into an unexpected space for meaningful conversations.

By removing conventional aspects of modern texting such as emojis, sounds, notifications, and any other elements outside of the alpha-numeric characters, Haikumi encourages you to slow down, write with intention, and have some fun.

May 2022: Kickoff

May - Sep: Design, Dev, Branding

12 Aug 2022: Film shoot

10 Sep 2022: Film edit + marketing assets locked

14 Sept 2022: Prototype

15 Sept 2022: Instagram + Youtube launch

26 Sept 2022: Final Beta testing

1 Oct 2022: App Store launch (US)

Nov 2022: Google store launch (US)

Free to download for iOS + Android, Haikumi utilizes the existing contact list in the user's mobile device to send and receive haiku.

The interface automatically counts the syllables as you compose your message. However, it will not send unless 17 syllables are honored.

How to Haikumi

Five seven five syllables

The dots help you count

Unlike traditional text applications, Haikumi is center justified instead of left-vs-right speech bubbles and reads like a book of poems. The newest haiku appears on the top rather than being buried at the bottom of a thread. Haikumi is deceptively simple, surprisingly fun, and counterintuitive in the best ways.

There are two screen modes: day & night.

Currently Haikumi is only available in the US. I entered The Cannes Lions festival to gain support and amplification from the creative community, with hopes to enrich as many lives as possible.

The current version was made in a creative incubator, along with countless volunteers and personal funding. The idea and platform is very scalable beyond the US and English.

Recently Haikumi was featured on Button Poetry, a platform showcasing diverse voices in poetry and the largest provider of spoken word, and slam poetry media.

Haikumi is a combination of two words:

Haiku - short form poetry consisting of three lines totaling 17 syllables

Kumi - Japanese gender neutral name meaning: Long period of time, beautiful