Pomona is a modern apothecary concept designed to make holistic healthcare accessible, affordable, and unintimidating for young adults.

Created as my capstone project, Pomona explores how young adults navigate independence, wellbeing, and financial limitations during a pivotal stage of life. The brand reimagines self-care as a daily, achievable practice through botanical remedies, education, and intentional spaces.

To bring Pomona to life beyond theory, I designed Vitalidad, a multi-sensory, immersive walkthrough experience presented at CHROMA 2024. The activation served as a proof of concept, allowing guests to physically experience Pomona’s values through scent, taste, sound, and space.

Young adults are expected to manage their health independently while balancing financial pressure, career uncertainty, and personal growth, often without guidance or support.

Healthcare costs remain a major barrier:

38% of adults ages 18–24 avoided seeing a doctor in the past year (2024) due to cost

Nearly 40% of young adults ages 19–29 experienced gaps in health insurance

Over one-third reported medical debt or bill-related financial strain, often impacting education, savings, and basic necessities

As a result, many young adults delay or deprioritize their health, reinforcing a harmful disconnect between wellbeing and daily life. This avoidance not only affects physical health, but also mental health, confidence, and long-term self-trust.

While traditional healthcare feels expensive and overwhelming, many aspects of everyday wellbeing can be supported through accessible, plant-based remedies and education.

However, young adults often:

Lack clear, approachable information about herbal options

Feel intimidated by wellness spaces that feel exclusive or overly clinical

Don’t know where to begin without prior knowledge

This gap presents an opportunity to reframe holistic care as supportive, approachable, and empowering, meeting young adults where they are, both emotionally and financially.

Pomona is a modern apothecary and community-centered wellness space designed specifically for young adults.

The brand offers:

Custom-blended herbal teas tailored to individual needs

Curated dry herbs available for purchase

A welcoming environment to sit, connect, and enjoy tea on-site

Knowledgeable staff who guide guests through plant-based wellness options and benefits

Pomona bridges education and experience, encouraging guests to learn about their bodies, explore holistic care confidently, and build sustainable wellness habits without pressure or judgment.

Pomona’s visual and sensory language is rooted in botanical softness, grounded calm, and intentional simplicity.

The brand balances:

Organic textures and natural materials

Muted, plant-inspired color palettes

A relaxed, inviting atmosphere rather than a clinical or luxury tone

The goal was to create a space that feels safe, curious, and restorative, where wellness feels personal, not prescriptive.

To demonstrate Pomona as a real, experiential brand, I designed and executed an immersive walkthrough activation for CHROMA 2024.

The experience centered around Vitalidad, a custom Pomona tea blend made with rose, lavender, and spearmint, crafted to evoke calm, clarity, and grounding.

Guests were welcomed with a freshly brewed cup of Vitalidad and guided through a three-part sensory journey, with each space representing one ingredient:

Rose: pink drapery and lighting, dried rose bundles, soft seating, rose oil diffusion. As guests entered this first space, a looping brand film was projected, composed of short, stitched-together clips evoking Pomona’s world through imagery of herbs, nature, movement, human connection, and imagined interior moments of the apothecary. The projection set the emotional tone for the experience and introduced Pomona as a living, sensory-driven brand.

Lavender: purple drapery and lighting, dried lavender, calming textures, lavender diffusion

Spearmint: green drapery and lighting, fresh energy, spearmint diffusion

Sound bath audio played throughout the space to reinforce a sense of mindfulness and intentional rest. Guests also received a printed handout explaining the blend and Pomona’s mission.

Before exiting, visitors were invited to take home a vial of the Vitalidad blend (every vial was taken by the end of the event).

The activation generated strong engagement and emotional resonance.

Guests expressed interest in revisiting the experience and frequently asked whether Pomona would become a real business. The response validated Pomona as both a compelling brand concept and a viable wellness experience, demonstrating the power of design to translate research, empathy, and storytelling into meaningful human connection.