Poetic: The Anti-Productivity App
Welcome to the next installment of my “Steal This Brand” series, where I develop brand concepts that you’re free to adapt, refine, and make your own.
Words craft worlds. And today, we’re crafting a world where rhythm replaces routine.
The Productivity Paradox
In our hyperconnected digital world, “productivity” has become both our greatest obsession and our heaviest burden. We’ve created countless apps and systems designed to help us do more, faster—yet creative professionals and knowledge workers are experiencing burnout at unprecedented rates.
What if there was a different approach? What if, instead of fighting against our natural creative rhythms, we designed tools that worked with them?
Introducing Poetic
Poetic stands at the intersection of mindfulness and creativity—an anti-productivity app designed to help you find your rhythm, not your routine.
Unlike traditional productivity apps that emphasize speed, volume, and rigid structures, Poetic embraces the natural cadence of human thought and creativity. It provides just enough structure to free your mind, without the pressure to constantly produce.
Core Functionality
Rhythm Writing
A writing space where words appear at a measured pace, not letting you rush. Adjustable rhythms match your breathing or thought patterns, transforming writing from a rushed task into a meditative practice.
Thought Cycles
Timed intervals of focus and rest that follow natural creative rhythms (not rigid pomodoros). Based on research about ideation and incubation cycles, these intervals respect the ebbs and flows of creative energy.
Voice Meanders
Speak your thoughts aloud while the app creates visual patterns from your speech rhythms and pauses. No transcription or task lists—just visual representation of your thinking rhythm, helping you recognize your natural patterns.
That’s it. Three core features designed around natural human rhythms rather than mechanical productivity. The app embraces the cadence of creative thinking instead of fighting against it.
The tagline: “Find your rhythm, not your routine.”
Brand Foundation
Name: Poetic
Brief, memorable, and evocative
Suggests creativity, flow, and artistry rather than efficiency
Industry Categorization
Digital Wellbeing / Mindfulness / Creative Technology
Key Descriptors
Contemplative
Unhurried
Inspiring
Target Audience
Creative professionals, knowledge workers, and tech-savvy individuals experiencing burnout from productivity culture; ages 25-45 who value mental space and creative thinking.
Central Brand Tension
“Freedom × Structure”—Providing structure for unstructured thinking
Reference Brands
Headspace (for mindfulness UI/UX)
Field Notes (for aesthetic simplicity)
Notion (for flexibility in personal organization)
Color Strategy
Primary Color
Deep Indigo (#3A3A8C)
Represents contemplation and depth
Stands apart from productivity apps that often use bright reds or greens
Calming yet creative
Supporting Colors
Soft Peach (#F9C6B0) - Adds warmth and invites creativity
Sage Green (#9CAF88) - Connects to natural rhythms and mindfulness
Deep Charcoal (#333333) - Provides contrast and readability
Neutral Tone
Warm Cream (#F8F3E6)—Paper-like quality that feels analog and thoughtful
Typography Framework
Category
Creative with modern sensibilities
Font Pairing
Display font: Cormorant Garamond (serif with poetic, literary qualities)
Body font: Karla (clean sans serif with good readability)
Type Hierarchy
Headlines: Cormorant Garamond Light, letter-spaced
Subheadings: Cormorant Garamond Medium
Body: Karla Regular
UI elements: Karla Light
Special Application
Text appears with subtle timing animations, respecting the rhythmic nature of the app
Logo Direction
Approach
Typography-based with a rhythmic element
Concept
The word “Poetic” with varying letter spacing that creates visual rhythm. The “o” is slightly enlarged and contains a subtle waveform pattern, representing both sound waves and thought patterns.
Variations
Standard logo with full “Poetic” wordmark
Simplified “P” icon with the waveform for app icon
Animated version where the waveform gently pulses for digital applications
Why This Matters
The anti-productivity movement is gaining momentum as more people recognize the unsustainability of constant optimization. By creating tools that honor our human needs for rhythm, reflection, and rest, we can actually enhance our creativity and wellbeing—often leading to better work outcomes than forced productivity ever could.
Poetic isn’t just an app concept—it’s a statement about what we value in a digital world that constantly demands more from us. It’s permission to think deeply rather than quickly, to create meaningfully rather than voluminously.
Make It Yours
This brand concept is yours to steal, adapt, and bring to life. Whether you’re:
A developer looking for your next passion project
A designer wanting to experiment with mindfulness interfaces
A startup founder seeking to carve out a new niche
A creative professional building tools for your community
The world needs more tools that honor our humanity rather than fight against it. If Poetic resonates with you, take it and run with it.
This concept was developed through a collaboration between Claude AI and Kristin Molina as part of the “Steal This Brand” series.
