Story
Overview
This project aims to build an online dating app that creates genuine connections without locking key features behind a paywall. The app includes tools like date planning assistance, visual story profiles, skill exchange dates, and voice prompts. These features are designed to promote real connections and encourage accountability between users.
Timeline
April 2024 - June 2024
My Role
Lead UX Researcher and a UX Designer
Collaboration
With 4 student UX Designers
Platform
Figma
My Role
As the lead UX researcher for our group, my job was to really dig into what users need and want. I focused on background research, creating and running surveys, and conducting semi-structured interviews to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. My goal was to make sure our design choices were rooted in real user insights.
I didn't just stop at research, though. I collaborated closely with the design team, sharing insights and helping shape the app's features to better match user preferences and address their pain points. I worked to bridge the gap between what users shared with us and what we built, making sure our app met their expectations and delivered a more genuine, emotionally rewarding dating experience.
Problem Statement
Online dating can often feel fake and emotionally exhausting for users. Our goal is to design a dating app that tackles these problems by encouraging real-time interactions, authenticity, and offering practical features that make the experience more genuine.
Research and Methods
Background Research:
Studies indicate that dating apps can negatively affect users' emotions, often leading to anxiety and frustration due to inauthentic interactions and poorly designed features. However, a focus on positive design can boost user satisfaction and reduce emotional stress.
Research Findings
Source 1: "The psychology of 'swiping': A cluster analysis of the mobile dating app Tinder"
My Interpretation: Traditional dating apps prioritize increasing the number of matches instead of fostering meaningful connections. This focus often leads to shallow interactions, which can increase user anxiety and lower satisfaction. I wanted to shift this approach toward building authentic connections, aiming to boost user satisfaction and encourage long-term engagement.
Source 2: Lad, Shivani Mangesh. "Evolution of a New Normal in Dating Culture: Analysing Digital Dependency of Modern Relationships Through Dating Apps."
My Interpretation: The design of dating apps plays a crucial role in users' emotional well-being. Positive design elements can boost satisfaction and ease frustration, while negative ones can heighten anxiety and stress. This understanding led me to include features that encourage positive emotional experiences.
Source 3: Cerniglia, Luca. "The Impact of Dating Applications on Adolescent Development: A Psychological Perspective."
My Interpretation: Dating apps can deeply influence adolescent psychological development, especially when they focus on physical appearance. This emphasis often leads to heightened anxiety and body image issues. I aimed to design features that encourage meaningful interactions and shift the focus away from quick judgments based on looks.
Source 4: Chan, Sam Lik. "Who uses dating apps? Exploring the relationships among trust, sensation-seeking, smartphone use, and the intent to use dating apps based on the Integrative Model."
My Interpretation: The reasons people use dating apps—like trust and sensation-seeking—shape their experiences. Understanding these motivations helped me design features that address diverse user needs, making their experience on the app more satisfying.
Source 5: Pidoux, Jessica. "A comparative study of algorithmic–user classification practices in online dating: a human-machine learning process."
My Interpretation: Dating apps rely on algorithms to match users based on their preferences. Users often interact with or even push back against these classifications, which influences their overall experience. Recognizing these dynamics helped me design features that better fit user behaviors and preferences.
Methods
Data Collection: I gathered both qualitative and quantitative data through semi-structured interviews and surveys using Google Forms, involving seven participants from various demographics.
Participants: Most were single, with a mix of interests in both indoor and outdoor activities.
Instruments Used: I used Google Forms for surveys and Google Sheets for analyzing the collected data.
Findings
Preference for Real-Time Event Matching
Design Implications
Value of Practical Features
Importance of Authenticity
Enhancing Real-Time Interactions
Our research revealed a strong user preference for real-time event matching, which became a core feature of the app. This feature was designed to encourage more meaningful interactions by facilitating face-to-face meetings in a controlled environment.
Event-Based Matching:
Design Decision: We implemented event-based matching to let users meet multiple people in one setting, minimizing the superficial nature of traditional online dating.
User Insight: Participants liked the idea of meeting people at events rather than endlessly swiping. One shared, "I like the idea of meeting people in person at events rather than just swiping through profiles."
Live Video Dates:
Design Decision: We added live video dates as a safe, easy way for users to interact face-to-face before committing to an in-person meetup.
User Insight: This feature helps build trust and lets users gauge chemistry in a natural way, addressing concerns about safety and authenticity.
Instant Messaging:
Design Decision: We included instant messaging to enable real-time conversations, making it easier for users to connect quickly.
User Insight: Real-time chats help users keep the momentum of their conversations, leading to faster, more genuine connections.
Promoting Authenticity
Authenticity was a key factor for users when deciding whether to engage with someone on a dating app. To tackle this, I designed features that make it easier for users to show who they really are.
Visual Story Profiles:
Design Decision: We added visual story profiles, like Instagram or Snapchat stories, so users can share photos and videos of their daily lives.
User Insight: This lets users show their true personalities and interests, not just a curated profile. As one participant said, "I want to know who I’m really talking to, not just see a filtered version of them."
Voice Prompts:
Design Decision: We included voice prompts, allowing users to record short audio clips introducing themselves or answering questions.
User Insight: Voice prompts add a personal touch and give users a better sense of each other’s personalities. It shifts the focus away from looks, making connections feel more real.
Adding Practical Features
Users valued practical features that made the dating experience smoother and more enjoyable. To meet this need, I designed a set of tools to simplify the process.
Date Planning Assistant:
Design Decision: I added a date planning assistant that suggests date ideas, helps with booking reservations, and offers special discounts.
User Insight: This feature makes planning dates easier, helping users transition from chatting online to meeting in person. One user shared, "Having date ideas and being able to book things like restaurant reservations within the app would make planning so much easier."
Skill Exchange Date:
Design Decision: I introduced a skill exchange feature where users can share skills they’re willing to teach and skills they want to learn.
User Insight: This encourages deeper connections by giving users a reason to meet beyond physical attraction. It helps build genuine bonds through shared interests and activities.
Future Research
User Preferences: I plan to keep exploring user preferences and behaviors to stay current with trends and evolving needs in the online dating world.
Emotional Impact: I want to study how the new features affect users emotionally, especially how real-time interactions and authentic profiles shape their dating experiences.
Long-Term Engagement: I'll look into what keeps users engaged with the app over time.
Conclusion
Summary: This project showed that users highly value real-time interactions, authenticity, and practical features in a dating app. These aspects help build real connections and make the dating process easier.
Reflection: My research emphasized the importance of user-centered design in creating a meaningful dating experience. Focusing on emotional well-being and authenticity can greatly boost user satisfaction.
Recommendations: Future research should refine these features and explore new ways to support user engagement and emotional well-being. Developing and testing prototypes will be key to gathering deeper insights.