sara.
Reimagining how people meet by transforming typical screen-first encounters into memorable in-person experiences with innovative blended technology. Bring back serendipity!
During the COVID-19 pandemic, starting new relationships became nearly impossible, and through our research, we discovered people were struggling with meeting people before it began.
Ending screen-first connections and moving them to fun, organic run-ins, we sought to create an enjoyable new approach for people to meet naturally by blending wearable technology into everyday spaces.
We received the most enthusiasm surrounding the questions of finding, creating, and cultivating friendships vs. romantic relationships. There are still product opportunities outside Tinder, OK Cupid, Bumble, and Bumble BFF, among others.
I’m not interested right now in meeting anyone and not because I don’t want to find friends or a partner, but because of the effort. I’m enjoying this current pandemic seclusion.
I just hang out with my girlfriend pretty much. Finding friends in your 30’s is impossible, we’ve all heard it. I live in Brooklyn which is full of people, but no one seems approachable.
I’m shy so this distancing is making the thought of being around people again scarier. When I’m around my friends in person I have more confidence and need that to get it back.
Those surveyed closely resembled the feelings our interviewees had about wanting new ways to meet people. These questions were framed in platonic and romantic settings.
“I wish there were a better way to meet people with my likes and interests.”
“During the pandemic I am going out to socialize with people less often than I had in the past.”
"Currently, I am open to meeting a new romantic partner.”
Liz is looking for a new group of friends and open to a relationship.
Bumble BFF has not filled that friendship making gap users are looking for according to interviews and task walkthroughs.
This Vibe Check model follows a logical flow from when users open the mobile app to the end of the interaction, comparing how good of a match they may be based on the "vibe."
Through wearable technology and with the users' permission, an aggregate of the biometric data, if available, is analyzed from Apple Fitness or Google Fit to create a unique match score when comparing one user to another during a 15-minute "Run-in."
The user will be informed during onboarding that this is for entertainment purposes only and that no raw biometric data will be shared or stored with VIBES or other users.
Using Procreate on an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil, wireframes were rendered based on the Vibes Check interaction model.
The first image is an example of an onboarding flow. Next is the "Run-in" interaction with a conversation facilitator prompt appearing on the wearable screen. Lastly, a visual representation of a graph overlay animation for the Vibe Check feature on the companion mobile app.
