Why I created Unveil: the story behind countdown calendars

When you know you'll be away from the person you love for two months, each day apart weighs a little heavier than the last. Video calls don't always cut it, and "I miss you" starts to feel hollow after you've said it a thousand times. I wanted to find a way to show her I was thinking about her — not just say it, but prove it, every single morning.

That's how Unveil was born.

The problem I wanted to solve

My name is Guillaume. I'm a web developer. My girlfriend Kanya lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand — and so do I, most of the time. But I had to go back to France for two months. Two months of time zone differences, morning calls (her evening), voice messages and photos of daily life.

We manage. But sometimes it's not enough. Sometimes you want to do more than say "I miss you" — you want to prove it.

We were going to see each other again after weeks apart, and I wanted to create something special to make the wait easier. Not a gift you open once and forget about. Something that lasts, that creates excitement every morning when you wake up.

The idea came naturally: a countdown calendar. 14 days until we'd be together again, with a different surprise to discover each morning.

What already existed (and why it didn't work)

I searched everywhere.

Physical calendars

Classic advent calendars? Too expensive, impossible to customize with our photos, and how would I even ship one to Thailand? The postage alone would cost more than the gift itself.

Existing apps

I tried several. Either they looked like they hadn't been updated since 2019, or they were plastered with ads, or they were so complicated I'd spend more time figuring out the interface than actually creating content.

Canva and alternatives

I tried Canva. You can technically create a calendar with slides, but the result is underwhelming: no daily unlocking effect, no suspense, no magic. Just a PDF or a static presentation.

I was looking for a Canva alternative built specifically for this, but nothing existed. I even thought about scheduling daily emails — technically doable, but where's the magic in that? Receiving an automated email at 8am isn't exactly the thrill of opening a calendar door.

Nothing matched what I had in mind.

The first calendar

So I did what developers do when they can't find what they're looking for: I built it myself.

What I put inside

A simple webpage with 14 doors. Each one unlocks automatically at midnight, Thailand time. The design was minimal — dark background, gold accents, something elegant.

Inside, I put everything that connected us. Polaroid-style photos with handwritten captions underneath. Sliders showcasing our best moments from the year. A long letter I'd written, appearing word by word as if I was typing it live before her eyes. Short texts for busy mornings. And a playlist with every song that reminded me of her.

It was handmade and probably technically imperfect, but it was made with love. I sent her the link on December 25th.

Her reaction

At first, she was a bit surprised. A digital calendar with doors that unlock? It was a new concept for her. But she quickly got it.

Day one, she opened her surprise. Day two as well. And very soon, it became a ritual. Every morning, before even texting me good morning, she'd open the day's surprise.

"I opened today's! I can't wait for tomorrow!!"

Sometimes I'd tease her, saying day 10 was my favorite... and she'd practically bounce with impatience waiting to get there.

"

"

It was like receiving a little piece of you every morning. Even thousands of kilometers away, I felt like you were there.

Kanya, after day 14

Day 14

I was on the plane. No wifi, no connection, no way to reach her. But I knew that at that very moment, she was opening the last door. There was something deeply satisfying about that timing — as if the calendar was connecting us despite everything.

A few hours later, we met at the airport. That calendar became more than just a countdown — it's a memory we can still look back on together, months later.

The lightbulb moment

I started telling friends about it. And my parents. The reactions were mixed. Some didn't get the concept — "a digital calendar? what for?". Others said "I love the idea, that's clever". No one was indifferent.

I started building without knowing where it would lead. No business plan, no market research. Just the desire to create something, for the fun of it.

And that's when the idea for Unveil took shape.

What I wanted to build

Not just another tool. An experience in its own right.

Easy to create

I wanted creating a calendar to be accessible to everyone, without needing to know how to code or spending hours on it. An intuitive interface, ready-to-use formats, and you're done in under an hour.

Magical to receive

But more importantly, I wanted receiving a calendar to be a moment in itself. Not just "oh, I got something." A moment that matters.

That's why I spent hours on the details. The letter that writes itself before your eyes, word by word. The wax seal that breaks when you open the envelope. The Polaroid photo that appears with a slight rotation, as if someone just placed it on the table in front of you. The voice message with its waveform pulsing to the rhythm of the voice.

Those small details are what turn a simple calendar into a lasting memory.

The values behind Unveil

Building Unveil, I made choices. Some obvious, some less so.

No dark patterns. Never any "your calendar expires in 24 hours!" pressure tactics. No aggressive popups appearing every 30 seconds. No guilt-tripping like "don't you love your partner enough to go Premium?" None of that.

Free to start. You can create a 7-day calendar with photos and text without spending a penny. That's enough to create something beautiful. Advanced formats and longer calendars are there for those who want to go further.

Privacy first. The photos you upload stay private. Calendars are only accessible through the unique link you share. And the recipient doesn't need to create an account to open their surprises.

Quality over quantity. I'd rather offer 10 polished formats than 50 mediocre ones. Every animation, every transition, every micro-interaction has been thought through.

Who I'm building Unveil for

I'm not building Unveil for everyone.

I'm building it for those counting down the days until they see each other again. For bridesmaids planning a surprise for the bride-to-be. For coworkers who want to mark someone's retirement. For friends who want to celebrate a birthday differently than with an Amazon gift card. For parents who want to make Advent magical.

I'm building it for people who believe the best gift is the time you take to prepare it. For those who'd rather give memories than objects. For anyone who still believes in the magic of small daily gestures.

If you're reading this, maybe you also have someone you'd like to show you're thinking about. Not just tell them, but show them, day after day.

Unveil is free to start — 7 days, photos and text. That's enough to create something beautiful.

The rest is your story to tell.