WinknDrink Dating App
The WinknDrink project kicked off with the creation of a unique brand system, followed by a custom app design allowing users to meet for drinks. As the sole designer and point of contact, consistently meeting with stakeholders to iterate and bring the idea to life was key for success.
Research and discovery began with stakeholder interviews and a quick study on the target audience, which quickly gave way to a number of ideas and sketches. Many logomark concepts were either optimized or trashed, evolving through each iteration until reaching a consensus on the top choice.
My Roles:
+ Logo & brand identity
+ App flow and usability
+ Wireframes
+ App design
+ Prototype function and flow
+ Marketing design support
+ Dev support
02 The Problem
WinknDrink wanted to solve the issue of ongoing back and forth messages by identifying and connecting the users that are ready to meet in person and mingle. I collaborated with the founders to develop strategies that help drive these points home and invite the users to broadcast themselves as ready to meet (what we coined Drink Mode).
Some other key issues to solve for were comfort and safety for the user base, by adding in verification and rating features. Also, we found that the most popular dating apps are actually owned by one company, so custom usability, features, and content allowed for us to stay clear of any proprietary issues.
03 Solutions
We kicked off the project with discovery calls and a rough content structure verified by an existing development team who was tasked to build out the designs. I worked closely with the dev team to evolve and customize the initial structure with a user-centric approach. An agile approach to research, implementing patterns and best practices, and sketching out flows and custom solutions rapidly got us off the ground with sitemap and wireframe reviews with the team. This allowed for solutions and strategies to evolve with verification for the dev team and feedback from stakeholders.
Overview
The WinknDrink project kicked off with the creation of a unique brand system, followed by a custom app design allowing users to meet for drinks. As the sole designer and point of contact, consistently meeting with stakeholders to iterate and bring the idea to life was key for success.
Research and discovery began with stakeholder interviews and a quick study on the target audience, which quickly gave way to a number of ideas and sketches. Many logomark concepts were either optimized or trashed, evolving through each iteration until reaching a consensus on the top choice.
+ Logo & brand identity
+ App flow and usability
+ Wireframes
+ App design
+ Prototype function and flow
+ Marketing design support
+ Dev support
Sitemap
Working with the development team, I got a start on the features & functionality list that paved the way for the sitemap flow. I used FlowMapp to create the sitemap and provide detailed notes and ideas per page.
Wireframes
The wireframes were an undertaking with 90+ screens in the final deliverable. Many screens could be sprinted through using best usability practices, while others highlighted unique features that needed special crafting to continue to optimize and improve usability and overall experience.
App Design
The brand identity continued to take shape during the design process. Areas such as typography and color studies became concrete as they helped breathe life into the features and functionality. A mix of icon sourcing and custom creation formed a cohesive icon set. Usability was paramount when finalizing details, along with creating a delightful experience to keep users engaged.
Unique Features
With plenty of dating and networking apps on the market, how can WinknDrink set itself apart from the competition? With so many dating apps out on the market, it was crucial that we highlight the company’s own unique value proposition in the industry.
Wink Mode vs Drink Mode
Many dating app users are ready to meet NOW, and that’s what drink mode is for. Quickly identify other users throughout the app that are ready now for a drink. If you’re just browsing, switch to Wink mode.
Drink DNA
When the premise is for users to meet for a drink, we wanted to capture their favorites as part of the profile setup. The Drink DNA is a fun and graphical way to choose from a list and even add your own. The user can also filter matches and drink locations by profiles that resemble their own Drink DNA.
Choose a Location
When your matches are ready to meet now, the next step is finding a location. The custom location icon is right there in the chat and various other locations to easily take the next step. Filter by Drink DNA and radius to find the best spot. Get all location info right there and even pre-pay for drinks that will be waiting as you make your way to the venue.
Drink Tomorrow
Drink tomorrow and group drinks is a huge feature, allowing the ability to invite friends and match with other groups. When not everyone can immediately meet up, WinknDrink offers the ability to establish a time for your friends and matches to all meet together.
Wink Mode vs Drink Mode
Many dating app users are ready to meet NOW, and that’s what drink mode is for. Quickly identify other users throughout the app that are ready now for a drink. If you’re just browsing, switch to Wink mode.
Drink DNA
When the premise is for users to meet for a drink, we wanted to capture their favorites as part of the profile setup. The Drink DNA is a fun and graphical way to choose from a list and even add your own. The user can also filter matches and drink locations by profiles that resemble their own Drink DNA.
Choose a Location
When your matches are ready to meet now, the next step is finding a location. The custom location icon is right there in the chat and various other locations to easily take the next step. Filter by Drink DNA and radius to find the best spot. Get all location info right there and even pre-pay for drinks that will be waiting as you make your way to the venue.
Drink Tomorrow
Drink tomorrow and group drinks is a huge feature, allowing the ability to invite friends and match with other groups. When not everyone can immediately meet up, WinknDrink offers the ability to establish a time for your friends and matches to all meet together.
Marketing Website
I helped the team think through a pre-launch and post-launch strategy. It’s crucial to get enough users within a vicinity to create a viable product.
04 Conclusion
I definitely enjoyed the complexity of working through a number of custom user flows for this dating app. Nearly a hundred screens were delivered to dev for final build, and many of those screens went through rapid iterations to get to the best solution. Many of the final flows were prototyped out and presented to the team and potential users for validation and approval for the final buildout.
It turns out that unveiling a new dating app has a cruicial launch period that needs critical mass using the app so the users feel they have an adequate pool of potential dating opportunities for success. I was only part of the project for the initial phase and have hopes to see the team break through into the market.