happn
B2C
B2C
Mobile App
Mobile App
Dating/Social
Dating/Social
Bringing Emotional Depth to Dating with Voice
At Happn, a dating app based on geolocation, I led a Design Sprint to explore an innovative way to integrate voice interactions into the experience. With the rise of voice notes and audio rooms on social platforms, our goal was to leverage voice as a new way to spark connections, creating a more emotional and immersive experience for users.
User Research & Insights
To ensure our concept resonated with real users, we conducted in-depth research with different user profiles—extroverts, introverts, and those in between—to understand how voice could influence their dating experience. We uncovered a key insight: voice carries personality, warmth, and emotions in ways that photos alone cannot.
Bringing Emotional Depth to Dating with Voice
At Happn, a dating app based on geolocation, I led a Design Sprint to explore an innovative way to integrate voice interactions into the experience. With the rise of voice notes and audio rooms on social platforms, our goal was to leverage voice as a new way to spark connections, creating a more emotional and immersive experience for users.
User Research & Insights
To ensure our concept resonated with real users, we conducted in-depth research with different user profiles—extroverts, introverts, and those in between—to understand how voice could influence their dating experience. We uncovered a key insight: voice carries personality, warmth, and emotions in ways that photos alone cannot.
Bringing Emotional Depth to Dating with Voice
At Happn, a dating app based on geolocation, I led a Design Sprint to explore an innovative way to integrate voice interactions into the experience. With the rise of voice notes and audio rooms on social platforms, our goal was to leverage voice as a new way to spark connections, creating a more emotional and immersive experience for users.
User Research & Insights
To ensure our concept resonated with real users, we conducted in-depth research with different user profiles—extroverts, introverts, and those in between—to understand how voice could influence their dating experience. We uncovered a key insight: voice carries personality, warmth, and emotions in ways that photos alone cannot.
A Bold New Experience: The Voice-First Feed
Through ideation and concept development, we arrived at a radical new feature: a feed based entirely on voice. Instead of seeing a profile picture first, users would hear a voice message, allowing them to connect through tone, energy, and emotion before seeing the person’s photo gradually appear. This approach shifted the focus from looks to authentic personality, offering a more meaningful first impression.
From Sketches to Prototype & Testing
Following the Design Sprint methodology, we moved through:
• User interviews to refine pain points and expectations
• Sketching and wireframing to explore possible interactions
• Prototyping a functional version of the voice-based feed
• User testing with five participants to validate desirability and usability
Impact & Takeaways
This bold experiment challenged conventional dating app experiences and demonstrated the power of voice in fostering deeper, more emotional connections. The feedback validated that voice-first interactions could be a strong differentiator, especially for users seeking more authenticity and emotional engagement in dating.
A Bold New Experience: The Voice-First Feed
Through ideation and concept development, we arrived at a radical new feature: a feed based entirely on voice. Instead of seeing a profile picture first, users would hear a voice message, allowing them to connect through tone, energy, and emotion before seeing the person’s photo gradually appear. This approach shifted the focus from looks to authentic personality, offering a more meaningful first impression.
From Sketches to Prototype & Testing
Following the Design Sprint methodology, we moved through:
• User interviews to refine pain points and expectations
• Sketching and wireframing to explore possible interactions
• Prototyping a functional version of the voice-based feed
• User testing with five participants to validate desirability and usability
Impact & Takeaways
This bold experiment challenged conventional dating app experiences and demonstrated the power of voice in fostering deeper, more emotional connections. The feedback validated that voice-first interactions could be a strong differentiator, especially for users seeking more authenticity and emotional engagement in dating.
A Bold New Experience: The Voice-First Feed
Through ideation and concept development, we arrived at a radical new feature: a feed based entirely on voice. Instead of seeing a profile picture first, users would hear a voice message, allowing them to connect through tone, energy, and emotion before seeing the person’s photo gradually appear. This approach shifted the focus from looks to authentic personality, offering a more meaningful first impression.
From Sketches to Prototype & Testing
Following the Design Sprint methodology, we moved through:
• User interviews to refine pain points and expectations
• Sketching and wireframing to explore possible interactions
• Prototyping a functional version of the voice-based feed
• User testing with five participants to validate desirability and usability
Impact & Takeaways
This bold experiment challenged conventional dating app experiences and demonstrated the power of voice in fostering deeper, more emotional connections. The feedback validated that voice-first interactions could be a strong differentiator, especially for users seeking more authenticity and emotional engagement in dating.
