How can we help socially withdrawn young adults rediscover their potential and integrate into society?

Designer Eun Soo Cho was motivated to create interactive experiences that foster self-discovery, habit formation, and gradual career development, making personal growth accessible and achievable through structured daily missions and skill-building challenges.

Glowthy is a multi-layered initiative dedicated to helping individuals navigate personal growth. It consists of three key components: Freddy, a public engagement project; Bloom, a mobile solution; and Dear Seed, a physical intervention.

Freddy is an interactive experience that encourages participants to confront socially and personally taboo topics—such as depression, faith, and mortality—shaped by cultural and personal experiences. Through discussions about "Freddy," a metaphor for unspoken fears, participants reveal their most vulnerable selves on stage. An interface visualizes participants' emotions through waveforms that change based on voice intensity, inviting them into deep conversations. The screen continuously displays and erases commonly feared words and figures, subtly guiding participants toward a deeper understanding of their fears. As the discussion intensifies, the screen resets, symbolizing a fresh perspective. This cyclical experience helps participants recognize, articulate, and liberate themselves from their fears.

Bloom is an interactive platform that supports socially withdrawn young adults through structured daily missions that promote self-exploration, skill-building, and real-world engagement. Users progress from initial self-reflection (0%) to professional challenges (100%), ultimately guiding them toward career paths such as content marketing. Through digital engagement and real-world interactions, Bloom fosters confidence, resilience, and personal transformation.

Dear Seed is a tangible extension of this process, encouraging users to document their fears and find comfort in them. Subscribers to Bloom receive a Dear Seed package containing colored paper, a piece of candy, and a notepad for writing affirmations. Participants fold these into small balloons, storing their messages inside. Whenever they face emotional or physical challenges during their journey, they open a balloon, receive encouragement, and continue their progress.

EunSoo Cho

I like ice cream. My best place is my small, cozy bed.