Muzz

Designing Better Connections: Improving the Post-Match Experience

Industry

Dating

Tools used

Figma, Mixpanel, Lottie

Product focus

Adding useful chat features
Introduced features to make conversations more useful and engaging, including voice notes and playback speed controls.

Changing user behaviours
Designed experiences to encourage healthier behaviours and reduce drop-off, including tackling ghosting.

Data-informed design
Used user behaviour, research and product metrics to identify friction and guide design decisions.

Identifying key points in the product initiative and researching the problem ready to present findings.

Requirements

Checking in with the design team for feedback, while presenting ideas to SLT to gather feedback and shape product direction.

Syncs & Reviews

Working closely with Dev and QA to present the chosen concept, resolve any final details and provide dev ready files for handover.

Ready to Launch

Initial experience

Identifying the friction

The first version of the experience introduced several points of friction that made it feel restrictive and, in some cases, confusing for users:

Key Challenges Identified:

  • Unclear dismissal - Users expected to be able to tap outside the half sheet to exit the experience.

  • Full app lockout - Locking the entire app made some users think the experience was broken.

  • Lack of feedback - With no animation or visual cues, it wasn't always clear what was happening or what users needed to do.

  • Unexpected exit behaviours - Mixpanel highlighted unusual behaviours, suggesting users were finding ways to escape the experience rather than completing it.

Redesigned experience

A simpler approach

My concept focused on giving users more control while making the journey clearer and less intrusive. Rather than locking the entire app, I allowed users to continue exploring while still clearly surfacing the chats they needed to action.

  • Kept users in control - Removed the full app lockout so users could continue using the app without feeling blocked.

  • Clearer actions - Surfaced inactive chats after a defined period, giving users simple options to reply, unmatch or let us know they were talking off-app.

  • Guided the journey - Introduced subtle animations and contextual information to help users understand what was happening at each stage.

  • Reduced friction - Removed confusing dismissal behaviours and designed a more predictable flow based on what we had learned from the first version.

Progressive disclosure

Giving users context, when they need it

I introduced an optional half-sheet that allowed users to tap through for more information, rather than presenting everything upfront. This kept the initial experience simple and focused while giving users access to additional context when they wanted it. The pattern also created a reusable approach for introducing future features without overwhelming users with information.

A visual cue for the journey

I created a simple Lottie padlock animation to visually communicate when the experience was locked or unlocked. This gave users immediate feedback on their status and made the transition between states feel more intentional, rather than relying solely on copy to explain what was happening.

The outcome

Global Launch

Feature launched globally across iOS and Android.

Improved usage

Noticeably better uptake in users and behaviour vs first version

Other features

Improving the Boost Feature

I wanted to make Boost feel instantly recognisable while ensuring the experience worked naturally across different languages and didn't become intrusive.

  • Familiar visual language - Researched competitors and found the lightning bolt was a common pattern for communicating Boost.

  • Designed for every language - Tested different translations and identified issues with longer languages, including Arabic, causing copy to be cut off.

  • Considered placement - Explored different positions to find the right balance between visibility and avoiding disruption.

  • Added subtle animation - Used lightweight motion to draw attention to Boost without interrupting the user's experience.

  • Punchier messaging - Used a clearer benefit-led message to make the value of Boost immediately clear.

Adding Speed Play to Voice Notes

Added playback speed controls to make voice notes quicker and more flexible, giving users more control over how they listen.

Share and Download Media in Chat

Introduced easier ways to share and save media, making conversations more useful while keeping the experience simple.

Clearer Chat Badging

Refined chat badges to make important states and information easier to recognise at a glance, without adding visual clutter.