Noa Ben Nun | Design Research
Virtual-2-Actual
A dating app that goes beyond the online realm
Background
Online dating platforms are used by people who strive to connect with others and pursue relational goals. When using online dating platforms, users present themselves via a user profile. There are many factors that lead to misrepresentation online. Hence, mistrust is widespread on the web as the fear of deception is omnipresent (Drouin et al., 2016). The gap between the offline and online personas, when uncovered, is followed by a discontinuation of the “matched couple”.
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Goal
The goal of the research is to understand the different factors that influence self-presentation of online dating users (Swiss residents aged 25-35) and to what extent their online presentation contributes to the formation of trust in relationships online.
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Research Question
How can we design the online dating experience so that it promotes open and honest communication as well as accurate self-presentation, enabling people to connect online in the restricted context of the current COVID-19 situation? (the research was conducted at the end of 2020).
“The superficialities make it hard, the whole thing becomes very non-committal, you write then stop, ghosting is a thing...this makes it really hard to know who is actually interested in something serious” (Luana, 30)
The Process
We first started with a literature review focusing on
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Motivations for using online dating platforms
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The stigmatization of single-hood
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Deceptive behavior in an online dating context
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Self presentation and disclosure on online platforms
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The impact of COVID-19 on online dating
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We also considered a relevant future scenario and its PESTEL analysis.
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We continued with in-depth user interviews in which we asked the interviewees to walk us through the process they went through when they first opened their online dating profile. The interviewees also shared how a typical experience with another user on the dating app looks like: from the first online interaction to a first face-to-face meeting. Going through this process allowed us to gain a better understanding of the challenges users face.
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The analysis of the interviews let us map the user journey using dating apps and identify the needs of the user in each phase. With the information we gathered in mind, we developed the necessary requirements and designed an end-to-end dating experience using Virtual2Actual: a dating platform that provides dating services that go beyond the online realm.
“A true reflection? That’s not possible because you’re different in every context” (Andy, 34)
“It was not on one go, I developed it over time based on what I think was relevant, then I test to see what works and what doesn’t work, add and remove things” (Emmet, 35)
“The best way to know each other is to meet” (Aaron, 27)
“I'd rather meet people sooner than later” (Vera, 26)
“We need to change the idea about dating… to show that dating is more exciting in the real world” (Aaron, 27)
The Solution
The Virtual2Actual is a platform for people looking for intimate, long-term relationships. It was developed with users that are interested in making the transition from virtual connections to actual relationships, with the understanding that trust can be mainly built through offline interactions.
The main objective of the platform is to support its users in finding a partner online. Facilitating the presentation of their multifaceted and dynamic personality, suggesting relevant matches, providing different communication channels and promoting face-to-face dates.
This project is a result of a collaboration between product and communication students. It was performed as a final assignment for the course Integration 5.
Virtual2Actual final Giga map