1. Conceptualisation
The first step to creating an awesome feature for a dating app is, of course, first finding out what I want to create. I started by creating a mindmap which got my brain juices flowing, resulting in an idea for a feature that I am going to call Opus.
There are loads of Dating Apps nowadays for every target audience imaginable. For my Dating App, I want to stray away from appearances and focus on personal interests. The goal is to create an application to contrast the selfie-driven landscape of modern online dating. An interesting thought I had was to create a Dating App powered by creativity. Instead of sharing selfies, people share their (own or favorite?) visual or auditory art, which can be anything from paintings, to music, to dance. This way, when matched with a partner, you already have one thing in common: you like the same creative outlet and style!
The next step was to look at existing dating sites and creating an overview of their characteristics. This way, I'll have a better insight into the current online dating scene and some inspiration and design patterns for my own feature. I also made a style guide to get a basic idea of how Opus will look visually.
Popular: Tinder
Image from: https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/18/with-new-tappable-gestures-tinders-photos-become-more-like-stories/
Everybody knows Tinder. Tinder is a dating app that specialises in quickly and easily finding matches, without too much depth. Tinder allows users to swipe through a list of matches according to their preferences (like location, gender, age, etc.). When both parties agree to match they can chat through Tinder. Tinder's target audience consists of mostly young adults.
- Quick hookups
- Finding matches
- Can be used (but not specifically meant for) for LGBTQ dating.
- Finding a match in a large database
- Swipe, swipe, swipe, swipe, swipe, swipe
- Like & "Super Like" for matches
- Chatting
- Set up profile with some extras like an anthem (favorite song)
- Relatively shallow preference filtering (Location, max distance, gender, age range)
Popular: Bumble
Image from: https://www.adformatie.nl/reputatiemanagement/hoe-bumble-het-vertrouwen-van-gebruikers-tracht-te-winnen
Bumble is another popular dating app with some differences from Tinder. In an attempt to protect women from unwanted attention, only women can send the first message after a match. This means that the classic "chase" is swapped; on Bumble women are the pursuers instead of the pursued.
- Finding relationships & matches
- Finding new friends
- Making business contacts
- Especially for women, reduced harassment compared to other dating apps
- Finding a match in a large database
- Swiping for matches
- Chatting
- Voice & Video Calling
- Like Tinder, relatively shallow preference filtering (Location, gender, age)
Popular: Ok Cupid
Image from: https://www.singleroots.com/okcupid-review/
Ok Cupid strays away from the popular braindead swiping apps, trying to create something new and refreshing with a bigger focus on interests than looks. OKC's flagship quality are their algorithms, presented as "Flavours" in the app. These Flavours help you filter to find the perfect match.
- Deeper relationships & matches based on preferences
- LGBTQ dating included (preferences include a whole bunch of gender identities and sexual orientations)
- Finding a match in a large database
- Avoiding mind-numbing apps like Tinder
- Swiping for matches
- Extensive filtering
- Creating an interesting profile, including things you value, hobbies and secrets
- Liking & Chatting with matches
Some other interesting dating app concepts:
Niche: Wingman
Wingman is a dating app that makes people create an account for their friends instead of themselves, allowing them to vouch for their friends and find the perfect date for them.
Niche: Curtn
Image from: https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/04/sam-altman-backs-video-first-dating-app-curtn/
Curtn is a video dating app where people can only communicate through video calls. This eliminates all possibilities of your match secretly being a bot.
Niche: Pickable
Image from: http://www.beasty.me/pickable
Similar to Bumble, Pickable allows only women to approach the men on the platform.