Caladrius

Overview

Caladrius is an app which allows user to own a virtual pet with care and affection, we receive companionship and words of affirmation in return, bringing us relief from the stress and alienation of daily life.

As our reliance on online communication intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of daily active users and the amount of time we spend on social media have both shot up significantly, amplifying social media’s negative consequences on mental health.

Drawing inspiration from myths and folklore, I strove to revive ancient understandings of healing and adapt them to modern settings. The caladrius, a bird that appears multiple times in medieval bestiary, channels healing energy and removes sickness from patients. The caladrius was said to appear before patients and carry off their illness when it flew away, leaving them fully recovered.