Less swipe. More spark.
Less swipe. More spark.
Designing a dating app where personality leads, faces follow, and privacy stays in the user's hands.
Designing a dating app where personality leads, faces follow, and privacy stays in the user's hands.
50K+
Matches
Matches
10K+
Downloads
Downloads
2M+
Message exchange
Message exchange
82
SUS score
82
SUS score
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Chance is a personality-first dating app that flips the standard playbook. Instead of judging people on a picture in half a second, users meet through prompts, playful avatars, and conversations that unfold before any face is revealed.
The idea came from a simple observation that today's dating apps generate plenty of matches but very few real connections. Profiles are skimmed, swiped, and forgotten.
We wanted to slow that down - to make humor, values, and small quirks the thing two people connect on first, with appearance becoming something earned through conversation rather than the gatekeeper to it.
Chance is a personality-first dating app that flips the standard playbook. Instead of judging people on a picture in half a second, users meet through prompts, playful avatars, and conversations that unfold before any face is revealed.
The idea came from a simple observation that today's dating apps generate plenty of matches but very few real connections. Profiles are skimmed, swiped, and forgotten.
We wanted to slow that down - to make humor, values, and small quirks the thing two people connect on first, with appearance becoming something earned through conversation rather than the gatekeeper to it.
My Role
My Role
Product Designer
Product Designer
Research, User Flows, Rapid Prototyping, UI & Interaction Design.
Research, User Flows, Rapid Prototyping, UI & Interaction Design.
Timeline
Timeline
7 Months (Intermittent), Feb 2022 - Apr 2023
7 Months (Intermittent), Feb 2022 - Apr 2023
Team
Team
Product Lead
Product Lead
Founder
Founder
Developer
Developer
Product Designers (2)
Product Designers (2)
Highlight
Building a dating app where personality comes first and photos later.
Highlight
Building a dating app where personality comes first and photos later.
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
Modern dating apps have two problems that feed each other.
Online dating is growing, but meaningful connections and privacy remain major challenges.
Online dating is growing, but meaningful connections and privacy remain major challenges.
01
They've become transactional.
Profiles get a one-second glance, judgment runs almost entirely on appearance, and swiping rewards speed over thought. Matches are abundant; meaningful connections are rare. Users we spoke to described feeling burnt out - endlessly browsing without ever feeling like they had met anyone.The deeper problem: the apps measure success in matches. Users measure it in connection.
01
They've become transactional.
Profiles get a one-second glance, judgment runs almost entirely on appearance, and swiping rewards speed over thought. Matches are abundant; meaningful connections are rare. Users we spoke to described feeling burnt out - endlessly browsing without ever feeling like they had met anyone.The deeper problem: the apps measure success in matches. Users measure it in connection.
02
They offer almost no privacy.
Photos, names, and personal details are public before any trust has been built. For many users and people in smaller towns or culturally conservative regions of India, dating apps still carry real social stigma. Being recognized by family, neighbors, or community members can have lasting consequences, and in more rural areas where norms run stricter, that risk alone is often enough to keep people off the apps entirely.
02
They offer almost no privacy.
Photos, names, and personal details are public before any trust has been built. For many users and people in smaller towns or culturally conservative regions of India, dating apps still carry real social stigma. Being recognized by family, neighbors, or community members can have lasting consequences, and in more rural areas where norms run stricter, that risk alone is often enough to keep people off the apps entirely.
"How might we design a dating experience that puts personality first and gives users control over privacy?"
"How might we design a dating experience that puts personality first and gives users control over privacy?"
A gap existed between casual dating and traditional matchmaking.
Users wanted meaningful connections without sacrificing privacy or flexibility.
Users wanted meaningful connections without sacrificing privacy or flexibility.
drag me
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
Who we talked to
Insights gathered from surveys and interviews shaped the product direction.
Insights gathered from surveys and interviews shaped the product direction.
50+
Survey respondents
50+
Survey respondents
8+
In-depth interviews
8+
In-depth interviews
What we learned from interviews
What we learned from interviews
Four insights emerged that guided the product strategy.
Four insights emerged that guided the product strategy.
98%
Said safety features like photo verification are important on a dating app
98%
Said safety features like photo verification are important on a dating app
73%
Felt safer meeting in person when mutual friends were involved
73%
Felt safer meeting in person when mutual friends were involved
54%
Worried about being recognized by family or acquaintances
54%
Worried about being recognized by family or acquaintances
43%
Don't follow through on meeting matches because fear of rejection holds them back
43%
Don't follow through on meeting matches because fear of rejection holds them back
User research results & insights
A total of 50+ survey respondents and 8 in-depth interview participants provided input on their dating app experiences.
A total of 50+ survey respondents and 8 in-depth interview participants provided input on their dating app experiences.
01
Learned from Survey
a. Users prioritized authenticity and safety well above speed of matching.
b. Apps that surfaced personality through prompts, humor, and shared interests performed better in user sentiment.
b. Two biggest frustrations: repetitive swiping mechanics and bios that all sound the same.
02
Competitive analysis
Tinder and Bumble favored photos, while traditional matchmakers focused on marriage, leaving genuine connections underserved in between.
a. Photo-first apps keep engagement high but rarely produce real matching depth.
b. Scrolling beats swiping for letting people slow down and actually read profiles.
c. Conversation starters (prompt answers, funny questions) are how good chats actually begin.
03
Target audience
a. Age: 20–30
b. Profile: Young professionals and students open to slower, more meaningful conversations and connections
c. Goal: Connect over shared humor, values, and quirks - not appearance
04
From Sketches to Concept
a. Created 12+ sketch variations to explore browsing patterns, profile layouts, and onboarding flows before selecting a direction.
b. Replaced profile photos with avatars to reduce appearance-based judgments and encourage personality-first connections.
c. Built a library of 200+ avatar combinations, balancing self-expression with the constraints of a one-developer team.
01
Learned from Survey
a. Users prioritized authenticity and safety well above speed of matching.
b. Apps that surfaced personality through prompts, humor, and shared interests performed better in user sentiment.
b. Two biggest frustrations: repetitive swiping mechanics and bios that all sound the same.
02
Competitive analysis
Tinder and Bumble favored photos, while traditional matchmakers focused on marriage, leaving genuine connections underserved in between.
a. Photo-first apps keep engagement high but rarely produce real matching depth.
b. Scrolling beats swiping for letting people slow down and actually read profiles.
c. Conversation starters (prompt answers, funny questions) are how good chats actually begin.
03
Target audience
a. Age: 20–30
b. Profile: Young professionals and students open to slower, more meaningful conversations and connections
c. Goal: Connect over shared humor, values, and quirks - not appearance
04
From Sketches to Concept
a. Created 12+ sketch variations to explore browsing patterns, profile layouts, and onboarding flows before selecting a direction.
b. Replaced profile photos with avatars to reduce appearance-based judgments and encourage personality-first connections.
c. Built a library of 200+ avatar combinations, balancing self-expression with the constraints of a one-developer team.
PRODUCT
The final app is a blend of three ideas working together.
Each idea tackles one side of the problem: appearance bias, shallow profiles, and lost privacy
Each idea tackles one side of the problem: appearance bias, shallow profiles, and lost privacy
1.
Avatars instead of photos
Every profile starts anonymous. Your avatar carries the visual identity until you decide to reveal more. This removes "looks-first" judgment and protects users from being recognized.
Every profile starts anonymous. Your avatar carries the visual identity until you decide to reveal more. This removes "looks-first" judgment and protects users from being recognized.
2.
Personality-first profile cards
Profiles lead with prompts, answers, and quirks - not selfies. Users browse through what someone thinks and finds funny, not just what they look like.
Profiles lead with prompts, answers, and quirks - not selfies. Users browse through what someone thinks and finds funny, not just what they look like.
3.
Progressive reveal
The profile photo isn't gone - it's earned. Users can request a reveal once a conversation feels right, and the other person controls whether and when to grant it. The curiosity stays; the control stays with the user
The profile photo isn't gone - it's earned. Users can request a reveal once a conversation feels right, and the other person controls whether and when to grant it. The curiosity stays; the control stays with the user
Visuals of Chance
Visuals of Chance
TESTING
What the test actually told us.
Moderated usability sessions with 5 users across 4 core tasks, measuring task success, time-on-task, and where the friction sits.
Moderated usability sessions with 5 users across 4 core tasks, measuring task success, time-on-task, and where the friction sits.
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
5 participants
4 core tasks
100% completion rate
9.1/10 satisfaction
5 participants
100% completion rate
4 core tasks
9.1/10 satisfaction
5 participants
9.1/10 satisfaction
4 core tasks
100% completion rate
TASK LIST
TASK LIST
Creating an Account
AVG TIME
2m 13s
AVG NO. OF STEPS
07 steps
1. Creating an Account
AVG TIME
2m 13s
AVG NO. OF STEPS
07 steps
Swiping user on home screen
AVG TIME
7s
AVG NO. OF STEPS
01 step
2. Swinping user on home screen
AVG TIME
7s
AVG NO. OF STEPS
01 step
Request a match to reveal their profile
AVG TIME
50s
AVG NO. OF STEPS
06 steps
3. Request a match to reveal their profile
AVG TIME
50s
AVG NO. OF STEPS
06 steps
Refer a friend & buy an avatar
AVG TIME
1m 26s
AVG NO. OF STEPS
10 steps
4. Refer a friend & buy an avatar
AVG TIME
1m 26s
AVG NO. OF STEPS
10 steps
What users told us
What users told us
The pattern was clear: the concept was landing, but the execution layer - performance, conversation depth, content variety - needed to improve in the next iteration.
The pattern was clear: the concept was landing, but the execution layer - performance, conversation depth, content variety - needed to improve in the next iteration.
The concept landed
The anonymity factor is different and a really unique concept.
The anonymity factor is different and a really unique concept.
Kirti
27 August 2022
The concept landed
The anonymity factor is different and a really unique concept.
Kirti
27 August 2022
Conversation depth was missing
Add more features - like sharing media or fun questions - to make conversations more interesting
Add more features - like sharing media or fun questions - to make conversations more interesting
Muskan
14 January 2023
Conversation depth was missing
Add more features like sharing media or fun questions - to make conversations more interesting
Muskan
14 January 2023
Execution held the experience back
Glitches, slowness, and freezes. Late messages and repetitive cards
Glitches, slowness, and freezes. Late messages and repetitive cards
Abhinav
18 April 2023
Execution held the experience back
Glitches, slowness, and freezes. Late messages and repetitive cards
Abhinav
18 April 2023
IMPACT
IMPACT
The product moved real numbers on both sides.
Outcomes were grouped by what they actually proved: that users connected, that the experience worked, and that the bet paid off.
Outcomes were grouped by what they actually proved: that users connected, that the experience worked, and that the bet paid off.
01. CONNECTION -
01. CONNECTION -
Did users actually connect?
Did users actually connect?
50K+
Matches made through personality-led discovery
50K+
Matches made through personality-led discovery
2M+
messages exchanged in-app
2M+
messages exchanged in-app
Daily time in-app
83%+
Lift
Before(V1)
~13 minute
After(V2)
~24 minute
Users weren't just signing up, they were staying longer. The v2 design changes nearly doubled how much time the average user spent in the app each day.
Daily time in-app
83%+
Lift
Before(V1)
~13 minute
After(V2)
~24 minute
Users weren't just signing up, they were staying longer. The v2 design changes nearly doubled how much time the average user spent in the app each day.
02. VALIDATION -
02. VALIDATION -
Did the experience actually work?
Did the experience actually work?
82
SUS score - well above the industry baseline of 68
82
SUS score - well above the industry baseline of 68
9.1 / 10
average satisfaction in usability testing
9.1 / 10
average satisfaction in usability testing
03. BUSINESS -
03. BUSINESS -
Did the bet pay off?
Did the bet pay off?
10,000+ downloads
in the months after launch, without paid acquisition
10,000+ downloads
in the months after launch, without paid acquisition
Validated a category
a photo-less, personality- and privacy-first dating app, with no real playbook before this
Validated a category
a photo-less, personality- and privacy-first dating app, with no real playbook before this
Surfaced willingness to pay
avatar customization and referrals emerged as a paid-features roadmap with clear demand signal
Surfaced willingness to pay
avatar customization and referrals emerged as a paid-features roadmap with clear demand signal
Drove a v2 redesign
feedback loop strong enough to ship v2.0 without revalidating the core idea
Drove a v2 redesign
feedback loop strong enough to ship v2.0 without revalidating the core idea
LEARNING
LEARNING
What This Project Taught Me
Lessons learned about user behavior, product strategy, and designing within constraints.
Lessons learned about user behavior, product strategy, and designing within constraints.
Anonymity earns trust faster than features do.
Giving users control over when their identity became visible proved more valuable than adding new features. Trust increased when privacy remained in users' hands.
Anonymity earns trust faster than features do.
Giving users control over when their identity became visible proved more valuable than adding new features. Trust increased when privacy remained in users' hands.
Concept clarity is not the same as product polish.
Users loved the idea of Chance long before the app felt smooth. Performance issues and repetitive cards held back an experience that was otherwise resonating. Ship the concept early, but treat polish as a Phase 2 deliverable, not a Phase 3 one.
Concept clarity is not the same as product polish.
Users loved the idea of Chance long before the app felt smooth. Performance issues and repetitive cards held back an experience that was otherwise resonating. Ship the concept early, but treat polish as a Phase 2 deliverable, not a Phase 3 one.
Conversations need more than a chat box.
Once people matched, they wanted ways to keep the chemistry going - media sharing, fun prompts, and small games. The MVP scope didn't include this, and users felt the gap immediately.
Conversations need more than a chat box.
Once people matched, they wanted ways to keep the chemistry going - media sharing, fun prompts, and small games. The MVP scope didn't include this, and users felt the gap immediately.
Designing within constraints is its own skill.
A fully custom avatar engine was the "right" answer on paper. The 200+ pre-made avatar library was the shippable answer. Knowing the difference is most of the job.
Designing within constraints is its own skill.
A fully custom avatar engine was the "right" answer on paper. The 200+ pre-made avatar library was the shippable answer. Knowing the difference is most of the job.
Research without a research budget is still research.
With a tight timeline and a one-developer team, we leaned on lean methods - short surveys, focused interviews, competitor teardowns, and quick concept tests. Enough to validate the bet without blocking the build.
Research without a research budget is still research.
With a tight timeline and a one-developer team, we leaned on lean methods - short surveys, focused interviews, competitor teardowns, and quick concept tests. Enough to validate the bet without blocking the build.
Why testing mattered
Chance had multiple flows and an unproven core idea. Testing told us which parts felt effortless and which quietly broke down.
Chance had multiple flows and an unproven core idea. Testing told us which parts felt effortless and which quietly broke down.
Where it goes next
Each project helped me build confidence, improve collaboration.
Each project helped me build confidence, improve collaboration.
Next Steps - short term:
a. Build an atomic design system so v2.0 scales without component rewrites
b. Add micro-interactions to make the app feel more alive
c. Continue acting on post-launch feedback
Next Steps - short term:
a. Build an atomic design system so v2.0 scales without component rewrites
b. Add micro-interactions to make the app feel more alive
c. Continue acting on post-launch feedback
Future Ideas - long term:
a. Light gamification in chat (board-game style icebreakers)
b. AR/VR avatar filters in the in-app camera
c. Optional social media linking for users post-reveal
Future Ideas - long term:
a. Light gamification in chat (board-game style icebreakers)
b. AR/VR avatar filters in the in-app camera
c. Optional social media linking for users post-reveal
NEXT PROJECT
NEXT PROJECT
©2026 Rishi Kataria • Arizona
©2026 Rishi Kataria • Arizona
©2026 Rishi Kataria • Arizona