Cards with Hearts · cardswhearts.com
Handmade cards for children in hospital, from anywhere in the world.
Core Concept
A platform connecting people worldwide with children in Sri Lankan hospitals through handmade cards, designed and built end-to-end as sole designer and developer.
Role
Product Designer
& Developer
Duration
Sep 2025 to Jan 2026
Scope
Product Design
Development
Frontend
The Context
Spreading hope, one card at a time.
Hospitalized children often feel isolated. Cards with Hearts lets anyone send encouraging messages so families get comfort when they need it most.
Impact
500+
cards sent to children in hospitals
1+
hospitals partnered across Sri Lanka
4+
countries contributing cards worldwide
Overview
What is Cards with Hearts?
Contributors of all ages write kid-friendly cards that reach children in Sri Lankan hospitals with comfort and hope.
My Role
Designed and built end-to-end.
As sole designer and developer, with a small team of 2 PMs and 1 writer, I led product design, UX, and implementation from concept to launch.
The Problems
Three gaps we needed to close.
Hospitalized children felt isolated with no way to receive outside encouragement. Getting physical cards to hospitals was fragmented, and people who wanted to help had no simple channel.
The Research
Understanding the hospital experience.
Working with Colombo Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital, we learned how isolation feels for kids and what support would matter most, shaping the platform and delivery flow.
The Design
From research to design.
I put card selection and message writing front and center, then iterated with the team and hospital partners on selection, kid-friendly guidelines, a minimal submit flow, and hospital delivery.
The Solutions
Solution #1 · Direct Connection
Encouragement delivered as physical cards.
Contributors send personalized messages that become physical cards, so kids feel connected to their communities.
Solution #2 · Coordinated Delivery
One flow from contributor to child.
Messages are collected, printed, and delivered with hospital partners like Colombo Lady Ridgeway in one streamlined path.
Solution #3 · Accessible Web Interface
A simple interface for anyone, anywhere.
Contributors can pick a design and write a message in under 2 minutes, removing barriers from intention to impact.
Reflections
What I learned.
Small acts of kindness scale when the path is simple. Partnering with Colombo Lady Ridgeway taught me to design for real constraints: hospital workflows, printing, and the emotional weight of each card. Next time I would test earlier with contributors to refine selection and cut friction further.
Live Site
cardswhearts.com
Send a card and bring a smile to a child's face.
Visit cardswhearts.com