Intro
Research
Define
Prototype
Test
Ideate
More
Online dating has evolved since Tinder's inception in 2012, yet the fundamental process of swiping and engaging in one-on-one conversations remains prevalent. Recognizing the fatigue users experience, I embarked on a two-week solo project to design an end-to-end mobile dating application – Schmingle.
The goal was to create a dating application that fosters group interactions, allowing users to chat with multiple people simultaneously before deciding on one-on-one social connections. This approach aimed to provide a more rewarding social experience and grant users greater autonomy in selecting matches.
Commencing with a set of targeted questions, I delved into users' online dating experiences, focusing on individuals ages 20-40. These questions were formed to assist me in understanding the experiences of online dating.
I created a survey to gather some basic quantitative data on how users rate their online dating experiences and to identify the problem areas. The survey was distributed out to my peers in Designlab and my social network. 8 participants responded (4 males, 4 females).
I reached out to 5 survey participants to dive deeper on their dating experience. The interview sessions were also an opportunity to gauge potential feelings towards online video calls and other key insights. An affinity map was created afterwards to organize the information gathered.
Texting someone the right response feels like walking through a minefield.
It’s tiring having to carry a conversation.
Although a sufficient amount of users were comfortable talking to their matches, only 25% of users were satisfied with the conversations and overall online dating experience.
.png)
Users expressed discomfort when matches responded with brevity, feeling burdened to carry the conversation.
.png)
The absence of face-to-face interaction before dates made online encounters feel routine.
.png)
Users desire a more nuanced understanding of their matches' emotions and sought authenticity in profiles.
The persona, Abby, was created as a representative of the research data. I honed in on her need for an engaging and efficient way to understand the tone and personality of her matches.
.jpg)
A How Might We(HMW) exercise was conducted to frame a solution for Abby’s problem. As a result, I selected the question: "How might we get users to support each other in getting to know their matches?". This prompt was most in line with my initial group chat idea and Abby’s goal of meeting new people.
I completed a 1 hour brainstorm where I wrote multiple solutions to answer the HMW question.
As a result from from the brainstorm session, the ideas were selected and developed further into an MVP chart.
Time-based video chat rooms.
Personal introductions through recorded clips.
One-on-one messaging post-group interaction.
Drawing inspiration from apps like EME, Marco Polo, and Clubhouse, I crafted multiple sketches before creating a prototype. I went through several iterations before I found a layout I liked.
.jpg)
Users expressed discomfort when matches responded with brevity, feeling burdened to carry the conversation.
Rated higher confidence levels in Schmingle than other dating apps in terms of getting to know someone’s personality before matching.
Felt talking in video chats helps them build attraction to someone before one on one conversations.
During user testing, participants overwhelmingly embraced the idea of a video group chat.
Users need a way to feel comfortable enough for them to engage.
Users need a way to report users so they can feel safe on the app.
Meeting someone first through video chat helps users feel more confident about someone they meet online.
