Intentional Matching
Dating app feature
Role
Product Designer
Timeline
Concept project · ~5 days (concept exploration & design)
About the project
Dating apps are optimized for generating matches, but a match alone does not create value. A good experience happens when a conversation starts and develops into a meaningful connection. From user reviews and community discussions, I noticed a clear pattern: users are excited about matches but often do not start conversations. This became the starting point of the project.
Challenges
Helping dating app users turn matches into meaningful conversations.
Hypothesis
Turn matches from passive events into a shared interaction between two users.
Outcome
Designed a post-match interaction system to improve Match → Conversation rate.
What I found
Users don’t know what to say
Many users are interested but hesitate because they lack a starting point.
Matches feel low-value
With many matches, each one feels less important.
First messages require effort
Starting multiple conversations creates cognitive load and fatigue.
Matching does not always mean intent to talk
Users often swipe for curiosity or validation, not conversation.
How might we help two users take the first step together instead of one person breaking the ice?
Validation Metrics
Primary
Match → Conversation rate
Secondary
- 01Time to first message
- 02Messages in first 24h
- 03Unused matches
Exploring Solutions
Concept 1 · Match Expiration
- • 24-hour limit after matching
- • Creates urgency but does not solve the core problem
Concept 2 · AI Conversation Starter
- • AI generates opening messages
- • Reduces effort but does not increase mutual engagement
Concept 3 · Shared Icebreaker
Both users answer a short prompt before chatting. Answers are revealed after matching and become conversation starters. However, shared answers alone do not create momentum. Instead of optimizing for responses, the system focuses on creating a natural path into the first message.
Process
Deeper Investigation
- •The initial concept focused on reducing friction in the first message
- •However, further research showed this only addressed a symptom
- •Users are overwhelmed by the number of matches and invest little attention in each one
- •As a result, matches feel disposable rather than meaningful
- •Even good conversation starters are not enough without user investment
New Direction
- •The solution evolved into a system focused on intentional matching
- •The core idea remains: add a small action after liking someone
- •Instead of only helping start conversations, this action increases intentionality before matching
- •Users complete a lightweight prompt (topic, question, or short story) before sending a like
- •These responses become part of the match experience
Why this system works
Increases user investment before matching with a lightweight action
Creates shared context at the moment of match
Encourages focus on active connections instead of passive matches
Prototype
Created using AI-assisted tools to quickly explore and validate the interaction flow.
Screens
Reflection
- 01This project started as an exploration of conversation starters.
- 02During the process, I realized the challenge was not only helping users send the first message, but creating more intention before matching.
- 03That shifted the solution from improving chat initiation to rethinking how connections begin.
- 04Designing for dating is not only about creating more matches — it is about creating more reasons to stay.
Next project
Web platform «ABBA»