Lets Talk Dating Apps
Heres a few things I found interesting while doing exploratory research and analyzing data on dating platforms.
How the online dating process works
At its simplest, dating apps generally fall into two categories. On one hand, there are websites and apps like Match.com and OkCupid which require users to complete personal essays and personality questionnaires, which are then used for compatibility pairing. On the other hand, services like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble forgo these surveys and essays, instead requiring that users link up their other social media accounts (Facebook, Spotify, Instagram). Apps in this second camp automatically populate users’ profiles. Some might even say that they “work to provide a stream of warm bodies as fast as possible.”
Problems with dating apps
While online dating presents access to hoards of single people, users are often disappointed with quality matches not materializing and look for services that deliver the right first date. Choices are often made without careful thought, causing the interaction to grow cold within a few days, thereby making the experience frustrating for the user.
What makes dating apps so popular?
8000 dating apps and websites worldwide (2500 apps in the US alone) singles aren’t short of options when searching for a date, whether it’s by a preferred appearance, shared hobbies and interests, or a specific location. The main benefit of online dating is that it presents the opportunity to meet hundreds of single people without having to spend too much, it’s affordable, simple to use, and convenient.
What is the best form (platform, device, operating system) for this project to take?
The best platform for a dating site depends on the brand. I couldn’t find any distinct reliable data for the best platform for dating apps. I can tell you my take on online dating apps, after doing my Research. I came to a conclusion after conducting my raw data analysis that Different brands have a better platform for mobile and desktop. The new and up and coming brand designs are focused on mobile and how the user interacts with their mobile device. Platforms like Tinder, Bumble, Grinder are best used on mobile because of their swipe or scroll feature to look at the hoards of people to choose from. The market is targeting the younger generation, who have multiple options on the horizon. Majority of people don’t have to worry about kids from a previous marriage or worry about changing their habits, they’re there for a casual time. Platforms like Match.com, Christian Mingle are directed towards the older crowd and are desktop based. The algorithm is different, they ask you a series of questions of what you’re looking for and produce options for you. They don’t have a swipe function but do have a scroll function to look at options.
Based on my research findings I uncovered companies directed towards young adults (18–24 years old) see dating sites and apps as platforms for casual hookups. They use photography, bold colors and less whitespace. Older adults are more likely to see dating websites as a means to helping them develop short and long-term relationships.
Next steps in the design process
The next steps in our design process is to synthesize our findings and trends we found. Implicate the key takeaways and create a design for the older generations dating platforms. Merging the colors, patterns and stock photos from the younger generation brands and the easy navigation system from the older generation brands. To create an all inclusive brand that provides for everyone and is accessible. Beginning to Create Mood Boards for ideas, leading to style tiles. We will conduct a series of user interviews to test the designs, and see the direction we should go from there.
