7010 Final Project
Problem:
Dating apps are quickly becoming a popular way to meet people in the area. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, people liked the idea that you could still make connections with other users from the safety of your home.
Hinge markets itself as the app that is “designed to be deleted.” The app has proven useful for many people, but often dating apps can create false ideals of who a person really is. The term has been coined as “catfishing” and it happens so often that MTV even has a show about catching people in the act. Users will use a photo of someone completely different than who they really are. If you decide to meet a fellow user off the app you may be surprised by their looks or their personality. This is simply because it is easy for users to create a persona very different from who they really are.
Solution:
In an attempt to make Hinge users get the most out of their time, I would implicate a few new features on the app.
Hinge allows you to swipe on a series of photos of people accompanied by a few short answer questions. The app provides you with predetermined prompts and gives the user the ability to answer questions like, “ A life goal of mine is…” You also post a series of six photos. The user can then swipe left if they are not interested or swipe right to determine if the two users match.
The app does not have any form of photo verification. This means it can be easy for users to appear on the platformI plan to take this digital customer experience and enhance the reliability of the design by implicating a double photo verification feature. This will allow for a better user experience and less deception on the app.
Target Users:
Hinge is open to anyone ages 18 and older, but the main demographic is users who are in their 20s to 30s.
Journey Map:
Prototype:
When you first set up an account on the app, it currently simply confirms your phone number, and your age. This leaves a lot to be desired for the user, as this essentially gives anyone with a phone number the ability to use the app.
I would like to suggest a photo verification on the app to ensure that the users are the same people that they appear to be in their profile.
After choosing the photos you want other users to see you will be prompted to begin the photo verification process.
Photo verification will be optional, but users are encouraged to utilize this feature. If they select “No thanks” they will then be prompted with this screen.
Hinge will then give users a series of fun prompts to use for their photo verification. The user will pick one and then snap a photo reacting to the prompt.
The prompt will appear at the top of your screen as the user reacts to the photo.
If you are verified the app will alert you of this and then you are free to begin swiping for matches.
If Hinge does not verify you, a alert will pop up informing you that verification has failed, and providing you with the customer support email if you feel there has been a mistake.
