# Feels — Mood Icon System Concepts

01

## Weather

Atmospheric conditions as emotional states. Universal metaphor that translates across cultures — everyone understands a sunny day vs. a storm.

Best For
General audiences, wellness apps, users who prefer indirect emotional expression
⛈️ Horrible
🌧️ Bad
☁️ Average
⛅ Good
☀️ Great
🌫️ Missing
◌ Placeholder
02

## Garden

Plant life cycle from wilted to flourishing. Organic, nurturing metaphor that frames emotional health as something you cultivate over time.

Best For
Mindfulness-focused users, nature lovers, those who view wellness as growth
🥀 Horrible
🍂 Bad
🌱 Average
🌿 Good
🌸 Great
🕳️ Missing
⚬ Placeholder
03

## Hearts

Heart states from broken to overflowing. Direct emotional symbolism that feels personal and intimate. The universal symbol of feeling.

Best For
Emotionally expressive users, relationship-focused tracking, romantic aesthetic preference
💔 Horrible
🩶 Bad
🤍 Average
🩷 Good
💖 Great
🖤 Missing
♡ Placeholder
04

## Energy

Fire and energy levels from extinguished to blazing. Dynamic, active metaphor that frames mood as vitality and inner power.

Best For
Active/athletic users, those tracking energy alongside mood, motivational framing
🪨 Horrible
💨 Bad
🕯️ Average
🔥 Good
⚡ Great
⬛ Missing
◇ Placeholder
05

## Ocean

Water states from turbulent depths to calm, sparkling surface. Evokes the ebb and flow of emotions with aquatic serenity.

Best For
Meditation practitioners, beach/ocean lovers, calm aesthetic preference
🌊 Horrible
🌀 Bad
💧 Average
🐚 Good
🐬 Great
🫧 Missing
○ Placeholder
06

## Cosmic

Celestial objects from black holes to radiant stars. Vast, awe-inspiring metaphor that puts daily emotions in a grander perspective.

Best For
Astronomy enthusiasts, philosophical users, dark mode lovers, night owls
🕳️ Horrible
🌑 Bad
🌓 Average
🌕 Good
⭐ Great
✧ Missing
· Placeholder
07

## Spirit Animals

Animal archetypes representing different emotional states. Playful approach that externalizes feelings as creature companions.

Best For
Playful users, animal lovers, those who prefer indirect expression, younger demographics
🦔 Horrible
🐌 Bad
🐢 Average
🦋 Good
🦅 Great
🐾 Missing
🥚 Placeholder
08

## Beverages

Drink states from bitter to sweet celebration. Relatable daily ritual metaphor — mood as the drink you need or deserve right now.

Best For
Coffee/tea lovers, foodies, casual/humorous tone preference
🧊 Horrible
🫖 Bad
☕ Average
🧋 Good
🍾 Great
🫗 Missing
🥛 Placeholder
09

## Soundtrack

Musical expressions from silence to symphony. Mood as the music playing in your mind — what genre is your day?

Best For
Music lovers, creative/artistic users, those who connect emotion to sound
🔇 Horrible
🔈 Bad
🎵 Average
🎶 Good
🎸 Great
⏸️ Missing
⏺️ Placeholder
10

## Abstract

Geometric shapes representing emotional complexity. Minimal, non-figurative approach for those who prefer understated, design-forward aesthetics.

Best For
Minimalists, design-conscious users, those who want subtle/private expression
▼ Horrible
◆ Bad
■ Average
● Good
★ Great
○ Missing
· Placeholder

## Implementation Notes

### Technical Considerations

- All emoji options render natively on iOS without custom assets
- SF Symbols alternatives provided for each concept (requires custom drawing)
- Consider emoji skin tone variations where applicable
- Test emoji rendering across iOS versions (some are newer)
- Placeholder/missing states should be visually distinct but unobtrusive

### User Preference System

- Allow users to select their preferred icon style in Settings
- Store preference in UserDefaults (existing pattern)
- Consider offering 2-3 options to avoid choice paralysis
- Default to "Weather" or "Hearts" as most universally understood
- Could offer as premium/subscription unlock

### Accessibility

- Ensure VoiceOver reads mood names, not emoji descriptions
- Color palettes should maintain sufficient contrast
- Consider adding subtle labels in larger widget sizes
- Test with reduced motion settings

### Recommended Shortlist

- Weather — Most universal, works for everyone
- Hearts — Emotional, personal, familiar
- Garden — Wellness-aligned, growth mindset
- Cosmic — Unique, works great in dark mode