These days, every new business seems to be a SaaS. I remember when software worked differently: you bought it, installed it, and used it without having to create an account, remember a password, or even connect to the internet. Your data lived on your C drive, and you were in control. Software was a tool, like a hammer or a chair. Buy a chair, and you could sit on it for life. No monthly fees required.

This post is a continuation of my design story, an account of how I transformed my concept into a fully-autonomous, postcard-sending vending machine. It’s the tale of wrangling data, crafting interfaces, and orchestrating messages, all in the pursuit of delivering a little kindness by mail.

I’ve always been fascinated by how small things can carry unexpected weight. Like a handwritten note or a kind word from a friend. Words have meaning, and sometimes, the right ones can change everything.

Ever since I first stumbled upon direct mail APIs like PostGrid.com and Lob.com, a quiet curiosity took root inside me. For years, I played around with the idea of sending postcards from the internet. Not as marketing, not as souvenirs, but as something creative and personalized. I wasn’t sure what form it should take, only that I wanted to create a way for people to send something simple, meaningful, and real.