OurDate is an activity-focused dating app for busy professionals

OVERVIEW

Role: UX/UI Designer

Tools: Figma, Zeplin, Adobe Suite

Time frame: 3 months

My design team and I were tasked with creating a user interface that would effectively merge the concept of professional networking and dating, crafting a 'Meetup meets dating' experience tailored specifically for young professionals. Our goal was to build an interface that would feel approachable yet polished, and resonate with our target audience: affluent, busy members of the tech industry seeking a platform where they could engage with others in activity-based settings.

GOAL

Our vision aimed to foster authentic relationships, differentiating from gamified approaches. The challenge involved designing an interface that embodied this vision, captivating our target audience. Simultaneously, we prioritized optimizing the onboarding process for efficiency and user-friendliness, ensuring a seamless initial experience.

PROBLEM # 1 →

The existing design failed to reflect the founder's vision of a friendly yet professional interface.

SOLUTION: Design a cohesive visual language that marries friendliness and professionalism using a balanced color palette and clear typography.

PROBLEM # 2 →

User testing revealed that the onboarding process was perceived as excessively lengthy.

SOLUTION: Enhance the onboarding process by implementing progressive disclosure, offering users the flexibility to input specific information at their convenience while gradually revealing additional details.

RESEARCH

For Problem #1

  • User interviews, surveys, and usability tests gathered insights on user preferences, expectations, and feedback for visual design, including color palettes, typography, legibility, and readability.

  • Competitor analysis and industry research identified successful design elements, trends, and typography practices in dating apps.

  • Explored color psychology to understand the impact of colors and typography on user perception, emotions, and engagement in dating app interfaces.

For Problem #2

  • User feedback and usability testing informed improvements to the onboarding process length.

  • Evaluation of user preferences and industry best practices guided the development of an optimized onboarding experience.

  • Analysis of competitor apps provided insights into successful onboarding approaches, while exploration of personalized matchmaking algorithms and progressive disclosure techniques enhanced user engagement during onboarding.

ITERATIONS

Conducting comprehensive usability testing and extensive competitive research were instrumental in our design process. We utilized usability testing to refine the initial UI design and revamped onboarding process, employing strategies such as A/B testing and prototype testing. Through these iterative testing approaches, we gained valuable insights that guided our refinements and ensured an optimized user experience.

UI not in alignment with OurDate vision

Professional, clean, friendly UX/UI Re-Design

Snippet of previous Onboarding Flow

More streamlined experience

FINAL INTERFACES

Guided by repeated user testing, we undertook numerous minor iterations to streamline the process before our final design handoff to engineering via Zeplin.

  • Sign Up/Login Flow →

  • My Suggested Events Flow →

  • My Profile Flow →

  • Chat Flow →

  • Event Check-in QR

OUTCOME

OurDate aimed to merge professional networking with dating for young professionals in a unique dating app. The design process focused on a cohesive visual language, incorporating negative space and a warm shade of blue for approachability and professionalism. Streamlining onboarding through progressive disclosure and user feedback enhanced the user experience.

Iterative design and usability testing resulted in an intuitive and visually pleasing interface. This data-driven approach, guided by competitive research, led to successful integration of UX/UI principles, delivering a tailored, engaging, and professional dating app for the target audience of young professionals in the tech industry.