This project was inspired by challenges I observed on dating platforms, where users often faced superficial interactions and frequent ghosting. To address these issues, I designed the Bubble dating app with unique features like profile verification, an advanced matching algorithm, voice messaging, and date requests. These enhancements will help improve user engagement, foster meaningful connections, and create a more positive dating experience.
Designing for genuine connections requires understanding user intentions and challenges. Over half of dating app users (54%) seek serious relationships, yet 50% are frustrated by inauthentic profiles, hindering real connections. These statistics emphasize the need to prioritize authenticity and trust within the app.
I conducted a quantitative survey with 17 dating app users to explore the pain points in current dating platforms. The findings showed:
Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge face significant competition in the online dating arena. While each app has its strengths, they all share some notable limitations. The swipe limits imposed by these apps can restrict the number of potential connections users can make. In contrast, other social and communication tools have embraced voice messaging and offer more flexible interaction options.
By integrating voice messaging and removing swipe limits, dating apps could significantly improve user experience, making it easier for people to connect and engage. These enhancements would not only attract more users but also increase satisfaction by addressing common frustrations with current app constraints.
How might we create an app that fosters meaningful relationships by focusing on authenticity and
personalized connections?
To better understand my target audience, I created two user personas and site map. These helped guide my design decisions and ensure a seamless and engaging user experience.
Now it was time to consider how users would navigate the dating app to connect with others. it was crucial to maintain a simple and intuitive information architecture, as users would frequently engage with the app to explore potential matches and build connections.
Using Whimsical, I created a user flow to map out how users would interact with the dating app, detailing the steps and actions required to ensure a smooth and engaging experience when utilizing the matching feature.
I started with low-fidelity wireframes to explore potential layouts and interactions. These were tested with users to gather initial feedback. After reining the designs, I moved to mid and high-fidelity wireframes, incorporating Bubble's playful branding and a cohesive visual identity.
Next, I created mid-fidelity wireframes which helped me present my ideas more clearly and gain a clearer perspective on how users might use the application. While creating these wireframes, I kept the user's needs and pain points in mind. To get initial feedback on the mid-fidelity wireframes, five users between the ages 24-30 participated in a moderated usability test. Testing was completed on mobile prototype app. The testing procedure involved completing three tasks and lasted approximately 10 minutes in total. Here are main insights I have gathered from the test.
Based on the usability testing results, I will focus on improving the visibility and ease of use for the photo upload, ID verification, and date invite features by redesigning these interface elements to be more prominent and intuitive. I will also implement a brief onboarding tutorial to guide first-time users through critical tasks, helping to reduce confusion and enhance the overall user experience.
I used soft, romantic colors and modern typography to reflect the brand's values of warmth and connection. The design process involved multiple iterations., focusing on improving user flow and visual hierarchy.
To being the branding process for the Bubble dating app, I first outlined a set of core values that would embody the essence of the brand, all while considering the needs of the users: warmth, romance, calmness, clarity, and readability. Drawing from these values, I curated a collection of inspiration images on a mood board to lay the foundation for a cohesive brand identity.
The decision to name the app "Bubble" stemmed from its playful and engaging nature. "Bubble" reflects the app's unique feature where matching with another person creates a bubble. Additionally, the name embodies a light and fun tone, aligning with the inviting and user-centric branding I aimed to establish.
In crafting the logo for Bubble, I brainstormed possible sketches. Eventually, I chose a simple, friendly design with a smiley face inside a bubble. The color scheme includes warm pink tones to add romance, purple tones for calmness, white for clarity, and dark grey to enhance readability and focus. As for typography, Inter was chosen because its clean and modern style keeps the type readable in various sizes, ensuring a user-friendly experience.
I tested the mid-fidelity prototype with five users; ages 24-30. The tests revealed the app was generally intuitive, but users struggled with ID verification and photo upload. Based on this feedback, I made key improvements, including clearer instructions and more prominent interface elements.
While the users successfully completed the tasks asked of them, I uncovered some areas of improvements. Below are the significant changes I made to my high-fidelity screens.
Users felt the term "Match" felt impersonal, and "It's a match" didn't fully capture the excitement of the moment.
I changed "Match" to "Say Hello" to make the interaction more inviting. We also replaced "It's a match" with "Congrats!" to add a celebratory tone, enhancing the user's excitement.
Users felt the screen was too cluttered, and the small and unclear text made it harder to understand and choose date request options.
I simplified the screen and made the text more legible, improving user experience by making it easier to understand and interact with the date request options.
Users found that "Send Request" felt formal and impersonal, and "Keeps Searching" didn't clearly express that they are not interested.
I changed "Send Request" to "Send an Invite" to make the action feel more personal and engaging. I also replaced "Keep Searching" with "No Thanks" to provide a clearer and more polite way for users to decline.
This project, inspired by how I met my boyfriend on a dating app, has taught me valuable lessons about thinking as a better UX designer. Using my story as an example helped me focus on creating an intuitive and user-friendly design that facilitates genuine connections.
I learned the importance of user-centered features and ensuring the app is safe, engaging, and effective. Moving forward, I plan to expand this idea na develop a new dating app with improved matching algorithms, communication tools, and safety features to help more people find meaningful relationships.
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