Korean Tarot is not just a fortune telling site. It’s an experiment in how immersive, culture-driven visuals can stop scrolling and pull users into a story-driven digital experience. This project demonstrates how 3D environments, motion, and narrative UX can be used to: capture attention quickly, sustain engagement through interaction, translate abstract cultural concepts into emotionally resonant digital experiences
Project Context
Problem
Project Goal
Key Features & Interactive Solution
Each tarot card acts as a micro immersive environment, inviting users to explore rather than scroll. Similar to how high-impact native ads pull users into a brand story instead of interrupting it.
Users don’t receive information instantly. They discover meaning gradually through interaction, increasing dwell time and emotional investment.
Choose a theme (love, career, wealth)
Draw past / present / future cards
Enter each card’s 3D space to uncover meaning
Rather than explaining meaning through long copy, symbolism and motion guide understanding. Letting visuals do the heavy lifting in storytelling.
Competitor Analysis
Text-based tarot sites → low engagement, fast drop-off
Static visual sites → decorative but forgettable
3D interactive experiences → higher curiosity and exploration
Interactivity + narrative = longer attention windows
→ exactly what premium ad environments aim to achieve.
Design Process
Adapting the 22 Major Arcana cards to Korean cultural figures was challenging. We explored using the 12 Zodiac animals, Korean deities, historical figures (like Emperor Gojong and Hwang Jini), and fictional characters (like Jeon Woo-chi), but maintaining consistency was difficult.
To ensure unity and avoid sensitivity, we chose generic titles, using "Emperor" instead of "Emperor Gojong" and "Fairy" instead of specific names. Each card’s interaction was crafted to align with its meaning, balancing cultural representation with tarot archetypes.
They functioned as emotional cues, making the experience feel distinct and memorable.
Design & Prototype
Initial 2D concepts felt decorative and easy to ignore.
Switching to 3D created depth, curiosity, and spatial engagement.
→ The same reason 3D, motion-led creatives outperform flat banners in native placements.
Cultural Aesthetics as Emotional Triggers
The initial approach was to design a character with no eyebrows or a cute childlike character. However, in order to capture the mysterious and serious vibe of the tarot cards, I switched to a 3D character with a more realistic image.
Information Architecture & User Flow
The structure is designed to guide users through various fortune categories seamlessly:
Choose a Fortune Type
Users select a fortune category, such as love or career.
Draw Three Cards
Users explore their past, present, and future fortunes within the selected category.
Interact and Discover
By clicking on a card, users enter a 3D space filled with symbols, allowing for a deep, interactive fortune-telling experience.
Visual Design Choices
To align with Eastern aesthetics, we used Korean traditional colors, historical elements, and a unique back card design that reflects the yin-yang philosophy. This distinct design approach provides an engaging yet culturally rich visual experience.
3D Card Design
The cards were designed in 3D to give users the sensation of stepping into an immersive world within each card. Each fortune type is represented with unique color schemes and elements that align with traditional Korean symbolism. My primary contributions in the 3D design aspect included character modeling and rigging, ensuring the characters supported the interactive and mystical atmosphere of the tarot experience.
Outcomes & Recognition
Successfully launched as an interactive web experience
Positive feedback for originality and immersion
Encouragement Prize, 29th International Communication Design Competition
What this proves
This project shows that I can: Design story-driven digital experiences that feel native, not interruptive. Use 3D and motion to increase emotional engagement. Translate cultural narratives into scalable digital formats. Think beyond “screens” and design attention-aware experiences













































