Designing for Authentic Connections
The Story of Pair, A Dating Platform
Product Designer
University Project
Sep - Dec 2024
Context
As part of my Product Design Strategy class at Emily Carr University, I undertook a 12-week project as a solo UX Designer. The objective was to conduct user research by interviewing a classmate to identify a current problem they faced and design an app to address it. This project emphasized bridging UX design principles with real-world business needs, offering a hands-on opportunity to apply user-centered design methodologies in a structured academic setting.
Introduction
Today, many dating apps struggle to foster genuine connections. Users often encounter superficial interactions, canceled plans, and the ongoing concern of fake profiles. Pair was created to change this. This case study explores the idea of a dating platform designed to promote authentic, meaningful interactions while prioritizing trust and personalization.
Problem Statetment
Dating apps today result in canceled plans or superficial interactions, making it difficult to find authentic connections and build a trusted social network.
This project aimed to address:
Superficial Interactions: Shallow engagements leading to low retention.
Lack of Trust: The problem of unverified profiles and unreliable matches.
Poor Real-World Integration: Limited features encouraging offline connections.
Design Process
Adopting a user-centered design methodology, the process of crafting Pair was structured into five iterative phases:
Empathize, Discover, Ideate, Test, and Repeat.
Empathize: Understanding User Pain Points
Tell me about yourself.
What is one of your biggest challenges right now?
What’s something you appreciate in a relationship?
If you had a magic wand, how would you fix your problem?
Recorded the session with user’s consent and took notes simultaneously.
User Persona
Background: Recently moved to Vancouver, enjoys exploring the city and going out on weekends.
Emotional State: Occasionally feels lonely and is motivated to form meaningful connections.
Current Motivation: Seeks to meet genuine individuals who add value to her life rather than superficial or short-term encounters.
Pain Points
Negative experiences with inappropriate or “creepy” users on existing platforms.
Long and unproductive talking stages that rarely lead to in-person meetings.
Frequent cancellations or last-minute no-shows for planned dates.
Takeaway: Jade values mutual interests, trust, and opportunities for in-person interactions.
User Persona & Key Insights
Discover: Analyzing the Competitive Landscape
A comprehensive analysis of competitors like Hinge and Bumble revealed:
Strengths: Icebreaker prompts, verified profiles, and engaging UIs.
Weaknesses: Lack of personalization, expensive subscriptions, and repetitive user experiences.
I created a storyboard and journey map to effectively visualize and enhance the experience of my user. This approach allows me to identify key touchpoints and improve overall satisfaction.
To view these in detail, please click here.
Ideate: Crafting Solutions
After several brainstorming sessions, I generated a variety of potential ideas for the app and prioritized the features using an Eisenhower Matrix. Guided by user insights, I conceptualized the following features for my MVP:
Verified Matchmaking: Profiles undergo verification, ensuring credibility.
Explore Date Ideas: Users access real-time local event suggestions.
Pair Personality Test: A fun quiz aligning users based on relationship values.
As I progressed through the project, I created detailed user flows for potential scenarios like the explore section, chatting with your match, onboarding, etc. ensuring that I took into account various edge cases and usability factors. This comprehensive approach allowed me to visualize and optimize the user experience effectively.
Test: Iterative Improvements
In the first round of testing, I created detailed paper wireframes that outline the onboarding and explore feature user flows. These wireframes act as a visual guide, allowing me to quickly iterate on design concepts and incorporate user feedback effectively. This approach streamlines the development process and ensures that the final product closely aligns with user needs and expectations.
Feedback loops enabled continuous improvement. Enhanced discoverability of features and reduced onboarding friction were implemented in the final iteration.
Based on the feedback received from paper prototyping, I developed medium to high-fidelity wireframes using an existing wireframe library on Figma.
During the second round of user testing with clickable prototypes using Figma, users were given specific tasks like
Task 1: The app has an explore feature where you can check out nearby places and activities. Share a potential date location with one of your matches.
Task 2: The app allows you to match with like-minded people based on your answers to a personality test. Find that test and take it.
Key user quotes:
“I liked the explore feature — it’s creative and not available in current apps.”
“The Pair Test should be more discoverable, seems like an underrated feature”
User Testing Session (Sped up)
Impact
Testing sessions demonstrated the app’s potential to bridge the gap between online interactions and real-world connections. Users expressed higher satisfaction levels and showed strong interest in the app’s unique features.
Reflections and Next Steps
The Pair project exemplifies the impact of a user-first approach in digital design. The process highlights the importance of iterative testing, empathy, and continuous feedback. Future steps include:
Incorporating user feedback regarding the discovery of features.
Adding advanced filters for match preferences.
Expanding event discovery to new locales.
Engaging notifications.
Conclusion
This project served as a hands-on opportunity to learn the process of developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) within a constrained timeline. By focusing on iterative design, I aimed to solve a real-world problem faced by one of my classmates.
The iterative approach of research, prototyping, and testing highlighted the value of user-centered design in developing practical solutions. This project demonstrated how UX principles can align with business goals, leading to the creation of Pair, which fosters authentic connections.
