Where fewer swipes lead to cosmic connections.
Venus Five
Project Overview
Venus Five is a matchmaking app for users seeking long-term relationships. In hopes of redefining the online dating experience, the app curates matches based on in-depth profiles, limits the match pool, and helps facilitate conversations by prompting users to talk, go on dates, or let their match know they are no longer interested. Venus Five aims to create a secure, engaging, mindful, respectful, and authentic space for users.
MY ROLE
UX/UI Designer, Researcher
TOOLS
Figma, Figjam, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
THE PROBLEM
What’s wrong with current dating apps?
In the current landscape of dating apps, users face a mountain of challenges that hinder the potential for meaningful connections:
(1) fake profiles, bots, and profiles soliciting their business for followers
(2) superficial interactions like the overwhelming nature of endless swiping
(3) minimal information on user profiles contributes to a sense of disconnection and frustration among users
(4) the competitive nature of popular dating apps often leaves individuals feeling unheard and discouraged
(5) emphasis on appearance over substance
(6) along with messaging difficulties and ghosting, genuine connections are hard to come by
(7) certain ethnicities face unfair representation within dating apps, adding to the need for a more inclusive approach
THE SOLUTION
Venus Five! 💫 A thoughtful matchmaking service:
✅ comprehensive user profiles
✅ no endless swiping
✅ conversations initiated in a timely manner
✅ no ghosting
✅ app prompts to increase in-person dates
✅ genuine connections
Venus Five’s matchmaking system will emulate the personalized experience of an in-person matchmaking service that’s been translated into an online platform.
MATCHMAKING SYSTEM
Users create a comprehensive profile across four categories for tailored matches. The four categories of questions are:
Core Insights - who you are and what you’re looking for
Surface Expressions - your interests (likes and dislikes)
Intriguing Layers - your values, beliefs, and expectations
Soulful Depths - your experiences and inner selves
Venus Five Personality Test (Optional)
PROFILE COMPLETION
Create comprehensive profiles through questionnaires
Profiles with minimal information are grouped and matched
POTENTIAL MATCHES
Users receive a curated selection of ten potential matches
Emphasis on values and principles, reducing the focus on physical appearance
YOUR FIVE
Users select the top five matches and must initiate a conversation within 10 hours
Encourages genuine connections and respects users’ time and emotional investment
LIMITATIONS AND UN-MATCHING
Ability to see other matches is based on rejections on the dashboard
Limited un-matching (up to ten people in a day)
CONVERSATION FACILLITATION
App prompts users to express interest or disinterest respectfully
After 48 hours, users are prompted to consider a date, promoting in-person connections
POST-DATE INTERACTION
App asks users to continue the conversation or part ways, discouraging ghosting
Users can report issues or communicate reasons for moving on, fostering transparency
How might we…
improve the user experience for individuals seeking meaningful connections and addressing challenges such as ghosting, superficial interactions, and a lack of inclusive representation, to encourage an authentic and fulfilling online dating environment?
USER RESEARCH: COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
The competition & the top dating apps in North America
Tinder revolutionized the online dating scene by introducing the swiping model to connect people of various age groups and sexual preferences effortlessly. This cultural phenomenon shaped modern relationships and became the central hub for individuals searching for something casual, serious, intimate, and or experimental.
75 million monthly active users; 10.9 million users subscribed to Tinder Premium
75.8% are men; 24.2% are women
38% are between 16-24 years old; 60% of users are under 35 years old. *Note that the Tinder age requirement is 18+
54% of users are actually single; 30% of users are married; 12% of users are in relationships; 4% of users are divorced/widowed
KEY TINDER INSIGHTS
Bumble is Tinder’s primary competitor and distinguishes itself through unique features created from the female perspective. Unlike other dating apps, Bumble’s pro-feminist design empowers women to initiate conversations within 24 hours. Moreover, the app has evolved into a versatile platform by expanding its services to include professional networking (Bumble Bizz) and building new friendships (Bumble BFF).
58 million monthly active users; 2.4 million users subscribed to Bumble Boost or Premium
62.4% are men; 37.6% are women
72% of users are under 35 years old.
The second most downloaded dating app
KEY BUMBLE INSIGHTS
Hinge is Venus Five’s biggest competitor as the app is “designed to be deleted” and aims to foster meaningful connections. Unlike the swiping model, Hinge prompts users to answer thought-provoking questions, providing insights into the user’s personality. The app also encourages personalized interactions by allowing users to like and comment on photos and prompts. In contrast to Tinder and Bumble’s matching system, Hinge users are able to initiate conversations with any individual they’re interested in.
23 million active users; 1 million users subscribed to Hinge Premium
60.36% are men; 39.64% are women
26.20% are between 18-24 years old; 58% of users are under 35 years old
KEY HINGE INSIGHTS
SWOT Analysis
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SWOT Analysis •
USER RESEARCH: QUANTITATIVE DATA
How do young adults feel about dating apps?
USER ANALYSIS
User Personas - Let’s dive into common user pain points
USER STORY
Serial No Dater: “Why can’t I get a date?”
As an adult approaching 30 years old, I want to meet my life partner so that I can build a family under a stable and loving home.
USER STORY
Ghosted: “They left me on read.”
As an adult that is exhausted of “situationships” and casual relationships, I want something long-term that can turn into a potential life partner.
USER JOURNEY
How do I achieve my goals?
IDEATION & BRAINSTORMING
What does Cupid, the grand dame in Mulan, and Netflix’s “Love is Blind” have in common? The fascination of love & matchmaking!
My initial ideas began with a deep dive into dating versus matchmaking, evoking the realization that a matchmaking app could redefine user experiences in an online dating space. Matchmaking has an extensive history in different ethnic and religious cultures around the world. Whether it is in popular media or real life, different matchmaking forms of expression can be traced through the ages, from parents orchestrating their adult children’s significant other to the iconic figure of cupid, people turning to mediums for spiritual guidance, or modern portrayals watched by millions on the Netflix series Indian Matchmaking.
After stirring my focus to matchmaking, I thought about constraints I could apply to benefit the app. For instance, in an effort to counter the nature of glancing at endless profiles in dating apps that often lead to feelings of “something is better around the corner”, I chose to restrict the dating pool tremendously to only contain profiles that align with the user’s preferences.
I contemplated the optimal number of profiles to be presented, aiming for a balance that fosters meaningful connections without overwhelming the user. With a few numbers in mind, I experimented with a deck of cards, arranging them around a table to visually represent the app’s potential structure. After hours of different iterations and reflection, I began to form a system that was in alignment with the user’s desire for long-term relationships and healthier communication.
DESIGN STRATEGY
Layout & Navigation
The information architecture displays the different functions and features a user can access on the app such as managing your user profile, discovering fun date ideas, interacting with your potential matches, or changing your account settings.
Information Architecture
The user flow showcases a few pathways from opening the app to logging in or creating an account, the onboarding process, finding your potential match and how you would like interact with them, or responding to your chats.
User Flows
WIREFRAMES
Low-fidelity Designs
Splash
Onboarding
USE google/apple/fbook ACC.
User Profile
Diff. categories of questions
Questionnaire
Home/Dashboard
Inbox
Separate type of matches
Chat
Why is Venus a central theme of this app?
BRAND IDENTITY
My inspiration was drawn from Sandro Botticelli’s iconic painting, The Birth of Venus. The Italian Renaissance painting showcases Venus, the Roman goddess of love, intimacy, fertility, and beauty emerging from the sea gracefully with beautiful hues of green, blue, and orange. In Astrology, the planet of love, relationship, and beauty is Venus. With this in mind, I envisioned Venus as the ultimate matchmaker and a powerful symbol to integrate in the branding. As the central theme of the brand, I hoped it would resonate with users that the app’s aspiration is to be a guiding force to attaining real and genuine love.
Inspiration
BRAND COLOURS
Main Brand Colours
Accent Colours
LOGO
Welcome to Venus Five!
✦
Welcome to Venus Five! ✦
HIGH-FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
Onboarding: How does Venus Five work?
Onboarding: Sign-in process & Confirmation
Onboarding: User Profile & Questionnaire
Homescreen: How Do You Match?
Your Matches & Messages
How do I further develop this app?
NEXT STEPS
Deliberate decisions were made to prioritize the user experience. I chose Montserrat as the font due to its readability and legibility. For the colour palette, I used a colour contrast checker to ensure the text maintains sufficient contrast against the background colours. Despite the onboarding pages being heavy with colour, key screens and features like the user profile, the homepage, and the inbox were intentionally kept simple for an easy yet pleasing navigational flow.
To enhance the accessibility of the app, I would like to research and interview a diverse group of users. For example, I’d like to gain insight on the online dating experience for people with disabilities, design inclusive features that cater to cultural and gender preferences, customize settings based on accessibility needs, and consider the gaps and critical factors in creating the matchmaking system. If this was a real app, I want to create an environment for all users to effortlessly connect and engage with the platform.
ACCESSIBILITY
Informally, I conversed with five people to gain valuable insights on their experiences as young adults navigating both dating and dating apps. Their narratives resonated with the experiences I researched on online forums dedicated to discussing and sharing their online dating experiences. This exploration prompted a deeper examination of these issues, including the sense of invisibility experienced by ethnic minorities, the challenges faced by some members of the LGBTQ+ community who often feel racialized, and the difficulties encountered by both men and women in the realm of dating apps. As this is only preliminary qualitative research, for the future I hope to take a more structured approach to user interviews. With qualitative research like interviews, I can unearth richer and nuanced perspectives that may help refine the matchmaking system I created.
QUALITATIVE DATA
I gathered feedback from a couple of individuals and they offered insights into aspects like the appropriateness of time-sensitive features within conversations and the potential inclusion of a highlighting elements in the matchmaking system to exhibit the reasons behind each match. While these insights have been valuable, the next step involves conducting comprehensive user testing. This process will help delve deeper into the user experiences and uncover potential gaps in the design that might not be apparent.
USER TESTING
