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Role

UX Designer (Research + Interaction)

​Christopher D'Antonio

Time                 Team

Methods

3-4 weeks         Solo

Competitive analysis, UX flows, prototyping

Tools

Figma

Home Page (Bezel).png
Message with match (Bezel)-1.png
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Ditto Bubble.png

Context

Modern dating is high volume, low outcome.

  • 300M+ users on dating platforms globally

  • Users spend ~90 minutes per day (~10 hours/week)

  • ​Yet only ~30-35% of matches lead to conversation

Dating apps are optimized for engagement – not connection.

"The Virtues and Downsides of Online Dating" (2020)

Usage and Demographics

~30% of U.S. adults have used a dating app

~50% of users aged 18-29

~45% report frustration

The Problem

Users struggle with:

  • Decision fatigue from endless profiles

  • Pressure to initiate conversation

  • Low follow-through after matchmaking

The experience is open-ended, but not guided.

Behavior shows:

  • Most conversations end within a few messages

  • Many matches receive no message at all

  • 45% of users report frustration, and 25%+ report burnout

"What do I even say?"

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Opportunity

Connection doesn't fail at matching.

It fails at starting interaction.

Despite high usage, users spend hours engaging, but struggle to convert matches into conversation.

Concept

Ditto is a dating app centered around shared experiences.

Instead of matching first, users conect through something specific.

Core Feature – Shared Bonds

Users add interests or hobbies as tags, which Ditto uses to pair you with prospective matches sharing that interest or interests similar.

From there, Ditto turns mutual interests into actionable date ideas.

Design Decisions

Context Over Profiles

Shift focus from "who you are" → "what you'll do"

Guided Interaction

Reduce pressure with built-in structure

Fewer, Better Matches

Prioritize intent over volume

Set Interests (Bezel).png
Message with match (Bezel).png
Message with match (Bezel)-1.png

Expected Outcome

Reducing ambiguity leads to:

  • Faster first interactions

  • Less hesitation

  • More meaningful engagement

Instead of forcing users to invent conversation, Ditto gives them a starting point.

Validation Direction

To evaluate this concept:

  • Measure time to first message

  • Compare response rates vs traditional matchmaking

  • Observe user comfort in structured interactions

Reflection

This project explores how small structural changes can completely reshape user behavior.

Less freedom, but more direction.

Less noise, but better outcomes.

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Match!.png
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