05.
PlusOne
PlusOne is an app idea that takes on a new alternative to meeting people by using your already-planned events.
*Passion project from my Bloc course*
About
Between endless weddings and now having work holiday parties there always was the lingering question, who could be my plus one? This was something I often experienced in my early 20s while navigating a new city and exploring dating in adulthood.
Meeting people online is the new normal. Coming up with a date idea or something to do can also become repetitive. So, why not bring someone to an already planned event you're already going to?
The goal for the PlusOne app is to connect plus ones seeking other plus ones
in one space.
UX/UI
It was important to go into this knowing not everyone handles or feels the same about meeting people online.
I compiled some initial data from surveys and conducted interviews.
“It’s fun meeting new people and I hate planning or being asked "what should we do". Half the time I have no idea or resort to the same-old things. I love the idea of using an already planned event. Date, time; check. Location; check. Food; check."-Quote from user survey
With this information I created a variety of user personas – I wanted to keep the different types of users in mind throughout my design process and tap into their emotions, what they may be thinking throughout their journey, and developing empathy for users. These personas later helped me develop potential features and user flows.
Competitive Analysis
There are many popular apps already on the market where users can meet people online. I took a closer look into the areas where they were performing well and identified where these apps were falling short for users. View Analysis Here.
Bumble
Bumble is a social discovery app
which positions itself around women
empowerment and normalizing that women can make the first move.
(2021 Version)
Tinder
Tinder is a place built on a world of
possibility. The possibility of forming
connections that could lead to more. If
you’re here to meet new people.
(2021 Version)
Hinge
Hinge is a dating app designed to help people find meaningful connections and relationships. It focuses more on fostering genuine relationships rather than casual encounters.
(2021 Version)
User Personas
Two main personas were identified during user interviews. Personas that are social and optimistic and ones that are more careful and cautious. Both however, are still open to trying something new. This helped me keep both types of users in mind as I thought through potential features and flows.
Kendall, 28
Single/Heavy Phone Use
Goals:
-
Rarely has a plus one for friends’ weddings and wants an app to help narrow it in
-
Wants to feel safe and comfortable with whom she is meeting
Frustrations:
-
Can’t find plus ones on other apps easily
-
Fake profiles
-
Annoyed with hook-up culture
Jeremy, 32
Single/Heavy Phone Use
Goals:
-
Always has corporate events and wants to share those fun times with someone
-
Wants to avoid having to make plans and get stuck with repeated date or hangout ideas
Frustrations:
-
Bored with dating apps
-
Wants a new approach to meeting people online
-
Never has ideas for dates or hang outs
User Flows
When creating my user flow I wanted to make sure users got to an end result of chatting with a match and wanted to make that feel seamless but also familiar and natural. Both pathways have a similar intent to reduce any confusion for users when encountering either pathway and reducing any relearning while using PlusOne.
There are two initial pathways for PlusOne.
-
Looking for a plus one
-
Wants to be a plus one for someone
Ideation
After gaining a clearer understanding of my potential future users and outlining a user flow, I started brainstorming and outlining various possibilities. This involved conceptualizing everything from the visual design and arrangement of user profiles to effectively displaying and showcasing events users wish to show on their profiles.
I focused on sketching the user profile section during a creative exercise known as crazy 8’s. This area holds significant importance as it's where users engage and make decisions, whether selecting a companion or choosing an event to attend as a plus one. Essentially, this section embodies the primary purpose of the application.
Revisiting Old Designs
Some time has passed since I first envisioned PlusOne and a lot has changed in the world of UI when it comes to interfaces.
I wanted to revisit my past designs and see where I could fine-tune and update without changing the current user flows and still utilize user feedback that I had received previously.
Mostly updating some UI and adding a little more detail to ensure the user knows where they are in the experience.
Branding
Branding
PlusOne's branding strategy centers around inclusivity, accessibility, and a refreshing departure from traditional dating app aesthetics. The decision to avoid overtly romantic or dating-focused imagery reflects a deliberate shift towards positioning the platform as a versatile social tool rather than strictly for romantic connections.
This includes loading screens with custom illustrations of diverse users and bright and inviting colors are featured throughout the UI to encourage exploration and keeping an open mind.
By opting for a plain wordmark logo without any accompanying icons or symbols, PlusOne allows users to interpret the platform's purpose and potential connections freely. This minimalist approach leaves room for users to define their own experiences on the platform, whether they're seeking casual friendships or something more serious.
Learnings
So much was learned about users when it comes to meeting people online. Developing for a variety of user types was most certainly challenging. You need to empathize with users who are ambitious and social but also with ones who might be more timid and reserved.
A learning success in this development was keeping diversity in the fore-front. The custom illustrations introduce a variety of people. Users who were tested loved seeing two females dancing together in the party-goer defining section to seeing a diverse group of people having a good time on the loading screen. They felt included but this could definitely be developed much further.
Overall, PlusOne has a lot of potential to be something fun, inclusive and a unique way to meet people. I could see further development in interest types, party environments people like to be in and more event types to include such as pool parties or a New Years Eve Bash and really fleshing out those features and categories. Other considerations are potentially further exploring a feature that lets users know who is considered a reliable PlusOne.