After nearly 16 years of building Day One, our founder, Paul Mayne, has decided to move on from Day One and Automattic.
It’s hard to overstate what Paul created. What began as a simple, beautifully designed journaling app has become a place where millions of people preserve their memories and reflect on their lives.
Paul believed that our personal histories deserve to be remembered, and that the experience of recording them should be beautiful, meaningful, and private. That belief shaped every part of Day One, from its earliest design decisions to the product it has become today.
Paul didn’t just build a journaling app. He lived what he believed. As he shared in his announcement, he’s written more than 50,000 journal entries of his own.
When Day One joined Automattic in 2021, Paul spoke about his ambition to build something that would endure. Not simply a great journaling app, but a lasting home for people’s memories.
That vision is perhaps his most important legacy, and one we will carry forward.
What Comes Next
We know Paul’s departure may raise questions about Day One’s future, especially for those of you who have trusted us with years of your most personal memories.
We want to be clear: Day One isn’t going anywhere.
Day One will continue to be developed and supported by the team that has helped build it over the years. Our commitment to privacy, including end-to-end encryption, remains unchanged. And we’ll continue to prioritize the reliability, accessibility, and long-term preservation of your journals.
Pedraum Pardehpoosh, Automattic’s VP of Product, will serve as Interim Head of Day One. Before joining Automattic, Pedraum led product for Apple’s App Store, and he has already been working closely with Paul and the Day One team. He brings a deep appreciation for thoughtful design and the experiences that make an app truly special. He’ll be working alongside the team that knows Day One and its community best.
We know there are opportunities to make Day One an even more useful and meaningful part of people’s lives, and we’re eager to explore them. We also want our community to have a greater voice in shaping what comes next. As we look ahead, we’d love to involve more of you in shaping Day One’s future. If you’re interested in sharing your perspective or helping us test new ideas, you can sign up here.
Thank you, Paul
Paul, thank you for bringing Day One into the world and shaping it into what it is today. You’ve created something that matters deeply to people, including all of us who have had the privilege of working alongside you. We’re grateful, and we can’t wait to see what you do next.
And to everyone who journals with Day One: thank you for the trust you’ve placed in us.
We recognize that what you’ve entrusted to Day One isn’t just data. It’s your life, your memories, and your story. Caring for those memories is a responsibility we take seriously, and one that extends far beyond any single person.
That’s the legacy Paul leaves us, and the promise we will keep.
— The Day One Team
