Stardust
Stardust
a dating app that emphasizes personality rather than appearance
a dating app that emphasizes personality rather than appearance
Project type
Project type
My role
My role
First iteration
First iteration
Second iteration
Second iteration
Solo class project
Solo class project
End to end design
End to end design
Sept - Dec 2022
Sept - Dec 2022
Jan 2025 - April 2025
Jan 2025 - April 2025
Problem
Problem
For people who are seeking a serious relationship, Stardust is a dating app that emphasizes personality rather than appearance. Unlike Tinder or Bumble which focus on the appearance of potential love interests, Stardust is a place where people can get to know each other through their profile alone without seeing what they look like.
For people who are seeking a serious relationship, Stardust is a dating app that emphasizes personality rather than appearance. Unlike Tinder or Bumble which focus on the appearance of potential love interests, Stardust is a place where people can get to know each other through their profile alone without seeing what they look like.
For people who are seeking a serious relationship, Stardust is a dating app that emphasizes personality rather than appearance. Unlike Tinder or Bumble which focus on the appearance of potential love interests, Stardust is a place where people can get to know each other through their profile alone without seeing what they look like.
Context
Context
Finding a suitable partner is hard, apparently. As someone who has never dated, I wouldn't know. I thought it was really interesting when one of my close friends in college decided to start dating for the first time. She was looking for a decent, respectable boyfriend out of college, who also wanted a serious relationship. From the stories I've heard, it has been a challenging search. I've heard from many straight women that finding a man with a good personality on dating apps is hard. So I thought if eliminating appearances make serious daters find their perfect match easier.
Finding a suitable partner is hard, apparently. As someone who has never dated, I wouldn't know. I thought it was really interesting when one of my close friends in college decided to start dating for the first time. She was looking for a decent, respectable boyfriend out of college, who also wanted a serious relationship. From the stories I've heard, it has been a challenging search. I've heard from many straight women that finding a man with a good personality on dating apps is hard. So I thought if eliminating appearances make serious daters find their perfect match easier.
Finding a suitable partner is hard, apparently. As someone who has never dated, I wouldn't know. I thought it was really interesting when one of my close friends in college decided to start dating for the first time. She was looking for a decent, respectable boyfriend out of college, who also wanted a serious relationship. From the stories I've heard, it has been a challenging search. I've heard from many straight women that finding a man with a good personality on dating apps is hard. So I thought if eliminating appearances make serious daters find their perfect match easier.
Research
Research
10% partnered adults met through a dating site/app (2022, Pew Research)
10% partnered adults met through a dating site/app (2022, Pew Research)
44% of users using a dating app to find a long-term partner (2022, Pew Resarch)
44% of users using a dating app to find a long-term partner (2022, Pew Resarch)
Men are more likely to use dating apps for casual sex than women (2022, Pew Resarch)
Of a sample of more than 1,000 users made available to BBC Future, almost 90% preferred personality over looks.
Of a sample of more than 1,000 users made available to BBC Future, almost 90% preferred personality over looks.
User Interviews
User Interviews
I interviewed 4 people, who I already know used dating apps before. They were all college age, AFAB, and interested in men.
They essentially wanted something like Hinge, which has unique prompts and features but without pictures.
BUT most of them don’t recommend using dating apps to get into serious relationships. To them, it’s mostly a game, something to do for fun, with the slight optimism that something could become from it. Most of them agree the way men use dating apps is different from the way women use them.
From the point of view of a straight woman, I wanted to see if I can make something fun for serious daters who value personality more.
I interviewed 4 people, who I already know used dating apps before. They were all college age, AFAB, and interested in men.
They essentially wanted something like Hinge, which has unique prompts and features but without pictures.
BUT most of them don’t recommend using dating apps to get into serious relationships. To them, it’s mostly a game, something to do for fun, with the slight optimism that something could become from it. Most of them agree the way men use dating apps is different from the way women use them.
From the point of view of a straight woman, I wanted to see if I can make something fun for serious daters who value personality more.
I interviewed 4 people, who I already know used dating apps before. They were all college age, AFAB, and interested in men.
They essentially wanted something like Hinge, which has unique prompts and features but without pictures.
BUT most of them don’t recommend using dating apps to get into serious relationships. To them, it’s mostly a game, something to do for fun, with the slight optimism that something could become from it. Most of them agree the way men use dating apps is different from the way women use them.
From the point of view of a straight woman, I wanted to see if I can make something fun for serious daters who value personality more.
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
Blindlee:
go on 3 minute blurred video calls with icebreakers
reveal face and match at the end in order to continue chatting
no swiping, just randomly calls someone based on your criteria
Blindlee:
go on 3 minute blurred video calls with icebreakers
reveal face and match at the end in order to continue chatting
no swiping, just randomly calls someone based on your criteria
S'more:
"wink" at 3 aspects of their profile and then send a message to unblur their profile pic
once they "wink" at your profile you can start chatting
the more you chat more pics are unlocked
S'more:
"wink" at 3 aspects of their profile and then send a message to unblur their profile pic
once they "wink" at your profile you can start chatting
the more you chat more pics are unlocked
Blink Date:
the app schedules people for 10 minute dates, if they like the conversation
they are shown 3 pics of different people, members are matched if they liked the convo and the pics
Blink Date:
the app schedules people for 10 minute dates, if they like the conversation
they are shown 3 pics of different people, members are matched if they liked the convo and the pics
Initial Design
Initial Design
My Idea
My Idea
Without pictures, people are pushed to spruce up their personality. At first, my idea was basically Hinge without pictures, loaded with prompts and tags.
Without pictures, people are pushed to spruce up their personality. At first, my idea was basically Hinge without pictures, loaded with prompts and tags.
How it works
How it works
Essentially, the app will decide when it's time to share your images. A pop up will appear in the chat that will ask if you're ready. You'll only be able to share your images once you've both agreed.
Essentially, the app will decide when it's time to share your images. A pop up will appear in the chat that will ask if you're ready. You'll only be able to share your images once you've both agreed.
Wireframes & Desktop UI
Finding your soulmate in the stars
The idea for the name "Stardust" comes from a theory that humans are composed of different stars (stardust) and that you and your soulmate come from the same star.
Finding your soulmate in the stars
The idea for the name "Stardust" comes from a theory that humans are composed of different stars (stardust) and that you and your soulmate come from the same star.
Redesign
Redesign
Rethinking my design
Rethinking my design
When would the pop up show up? The idea doesn't make a lot of sense.
People still care about appearances
Catfishing could be an issue
Idea already exists - how can I be unique?
When would the pop up show up? The idea doesn't make a lot of sense.
People still care about appearances
Catfishing could be an issue
Idea already exists - how can I be unique?
New Design
New Design
Pics will be on the profile but small and blurred
Only can see the profile pic so that people aren't too intimidated by the lack of photos
Must complete 3 icebreaker challenges to unlock pics
Pics will be on the profile but small and blurred
Only can see the profile pic so that people aren't too intimidated by the lack of photos
Must complete 3 icebreaker challenges to unlock pics
Old Homepage
Old Homepage
Bad UI
Don't like the blue or rounded edges too much
Logo is too big + the filtering should also be sticky
Bad UI
Don't like the blue or rounded edges too much
Logo is too big + the filtering should also be sticky
New Homepage
New Homepage
Cleaner, less lines, more spacing
Profile picture is visible + contains hidden pics
added Spotify + movie favorites
able to comment on a prompt (like Hinge)
got rid of the skip and save function
Cleaner, less lines, more spacing
Profile picture is visible + contains hidden pics
added Spotify + movie favorites
able to comment on a prompt (like Hinge)
got rid of the skip and save function
Old Onboarding
Old Onboarding
Email log in
More steps (age, location, bio)
Process bar indicator
Email log in
More steps (age, location, bio)
Process bar indicator
New Onboarding
New Onboarding
Phone number log in
Clearer understanding of how the app works when adding photos
Verify identity option
Cleaner UI
Phone number log in
Clearer understanding of how the app works when adding photos
Verify identity option
Cleaner UI
Old Profile
Old Profile
Too many different tabs
No way to go back to main profile tabs
Hard to view all images
Too many different tabs
No way to go back to main profile tabs
Hard to view all images
New Profile
New Profile
Improved filter + options
Moved basics and lifestyle under About Me
Added a Looking For section
Added more under Passions/Interests (with linked accounts)
Changed Help Center to Safety
Improved filter + options
Moved basics and lifestyle under About Me
Added a Looking For section
Added more under Passions/Interests (with linked accounts)
Changed Help Center to Safety
Conclusion
Conclusion
The idea of a blind dating app is apparently not that desirable (according to people on reddit) since it would be kind of rude to stop talking to someone because they're not physically attractive
The idea of a blind dating app is apparently not that desirable (according to people on reddit) since it would be kind of rude to stop talking to someone because they're not physically attractive
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
How to use Figma & discovering auto-layout during my second iteration
Improving research - I didn't get to do user testing after my first prototype so more research and interviews forced me to go back to the drawing board
Better eye for good UI - I realized that some of my early design choices were…questionable…and I was itching to fix it
How to use Figma & discovering auto-layout during my second iteration
Improving research - I didn't get to do user testing after my first prototype so more research and interviews forced me to go back to the drawing board
Better eye for good UI - I realized that some of my early design choices were…questionable…and I was itching to fix it
Next steps
Next steps
Dating apps are like a game anyway, so why not further gamify it? Next steps could be to add more features (like a BeReal popup) to unlock more aspects of a person's profile
Dating apps are like a game anyway, so why not further gamify it? Next steps could be to add more features (like a BeReal popup) to unlock more aspects of a person's profile