Overview
Twindly is an AI-powered dating app designed to give users who may not stand out on traditional dating platforms but have unique personalities worth exploring a second chance at connection. In its initial MVP launch, Twindly introduced an "AI twin" feature, allowing users to chat with an AI version of potential matches. However, this feature did not significantly boost match rates due to low engagement.
Our task was to identify the reasons behind this issue and develop strategies to enhance user interaction and improve match outcomes.
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The Outcome
After the redesign, we did one round of thorough user test with a group of users (16), and get the positive feedback from users. Twindly is currently still in developing phase after our design team has delivered the final product design to the engineering team and is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2025.
Problem Statement
for previous version
On user profile swiping page, user can choose to talk to the AI twin to know more about that person.
Low User Engagement with AI Twin
Users lacked motivation to interact with their AI twin, leading to low usage of the feature and little effect on match rates.
Limited Data for AI Optimization
Limited user input made it hard for the AI twin to create engaging conversations, reducing user interest and matches.
Design Questions
Our Solution
in a nutshell
Instant Match via AI Twin Chat
This serves as a big motivation for users to engage in chatting with AI twins so they can matching with the user without sending a request. (Our user research of 20 users also indicates that both male and female users are prone to this feature and don't feel disturbed by the instant match, as long as the user has put efforts in talking to their AI twin at first)
AI Twin Built During Onboarding
User must engage in creating an AI twin during onborading and they can set the number of messages that others must exchange with my AI Twin before they can instantly match with me.
Design Process
Process Overview
+ Timeline
The process follows the design thinking methodology, starting with problem framing and progressing through design and evaluation stages.
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User Research
Based on user interviews and user journey map, we identified the following two primary user groups:
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User Flow
The previous homepage was a user profile swipe page like most dating app and the user has the option to send like or dislike with the option to talk to the AI twin.
We had two proposals:
Proposal A
User can send match request after talking to the AI twin and the other user can review their chat to choose to match or not match with them
The updated homepage features a user pool, allowing users to choose someone they want to invest time in by interacting with their AI twin.
The match review page consolidates match request information into a card, allowing users to expand it to view detailed interactions from the requester and their AI twin.
Proposal B
User can send direct match with the target user once they have talked with their AI twin for a certain amount. (We adopted this proposal after conducting user testing with 7 users (4 female and 3 male).
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Wireframing
Optimizing itinerary generation experience to boost conversion rates and enhance business collaborations
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Key Features
Key features for out final product delivery
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User Feedback
Match Rate (Passion Pulse) Position
"I didn’t immediately notice the match rate; it would be helpful if it were more prominent."
Profile Layout as a Card
"It’s hard to get an overview of someone’s profile without scrolling a lot."
Tag Scrolling with Right Arrow
"It’s a bit inconvenient that I can’t scroll through tags easily."
Tag Number Indicator and Match Requests
"I wasn’t aware of how many requests I had pending. A number indicator would be helpful."
AI Icon for Messages Sent by AI
"It’s a bit confusing when I see messages from the AI without any clear distinction."
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Iterations From Previous Version
We collect user feedback from our testing sessions with over 15 participants and make updates based on their input.
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User profile layout
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My Twindly page layout
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Chat list layout
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Final UI
We collect user feedback from our testing sessions with over 15 participants and make updates based on their input.
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Reflection & Take Away
1. The Power of Iterative Design
Reflection: The process of testing and refining helped us improve features based on real user feedback, showing how important it is to stay flexible and make changes along the way.
Takeaway: Iterative design not only fine-tunes features but also deepens our understanding of what users want. In future projects, it’s essential to allow time for multiple testing rounds to create a smoother, more user-friendly experience.
2. Balancing New Ideas with Familiar Patterns
Reflection: Adding innovative features like the AI digital twin and Passion Pulse was exciting, but we needed to make sure they felt easy and intuitive for users.
Takeaway: When bringing in new concepts, balancing them with familiar design patterns helps users feel more comfortable. For future projects, making innovative features feel approachable is key to helping users adopt them quickly.
4. The Importance of Clear Visual Hierarchy
Reflection: Placing key information, like the match rate, in a prominent position helped users find what mattered most, highlighting the need for a clear visual order.
Takeaway: A strong visual hierarchy allows users to access essential information quickly. In future designs, prioritizing the visibility of key information will improve usability and user satisfaction.