Product overview
Unlike traditional dating apps that encourage highlight reels, TwoVera uses a dual-profile system: a Curated profile (the polished, intentional version of yourself) and a Candid profile (the raw, unfiltered, "100% true self"). The Candid side is revealed gradually, creating a slow-reveal experience that builds trust before vulnerability. The app's mission is to break the cycle of superficial swiping and help people form genuine connections by showing both sides of who they are.
The problem
Dating app users struggle to present themselves authentically -caught between performing a "highlight reel" and fearing judgment for being real - leading to superficial connections, dating fatigue, and emotional exhaustion.
The goal
Enable users to form deeper, more genuine connections by letting them express both their polished, intentional self (Curated) and their raw, unfiltered self (Candid) - in a way that feels emotionally safe, intentional, and rewarding rather than performative.
Key value propositions
1
Dual-profile system
Create two profiles: a Curated side (your polished, intentional self) and a Candid side (your raw, unfiltered, real self). Unlike other apps where you only show your best angles, TwoVera lets you express your full complexity.
2
The progressive reveal
Your Candid profile isn't shown immediately - it's revealed gradually, through shared moments and milestones. You control what's revealed and when, making vulnerability feel safe rather than risky.
3
Slower, more meaningful interactions
TwoVera is designed to break the cycle of mindless swiping. Every step from browsing to matching to messaging is crafted to invite curiosity, reflection, and genuine connection instead of quick judgments.
Persona
The persona was created by grouping shared behaviors and challenges uncovered by TwoVera's Research Team.
Key concerns
These are the areas the client identified as needing the most attention:
Onboarding
Dual-profile concept isn't landing; needs warmth + clarity​
Feed experience
Too swipey/generic; needs depth + intentional pacing​
Match moment
Feels emotionally flat; needs meaning + recognition
Game
Feels gimmicky; needs to build real trust + intimacying soon
Matching experience
Based on previous research, usability testing, and client feedback, we identified a gap in the existing matching experience:
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Users experience "dissociation when swiping" on apps like Tinder/Bumble — operating on autopilot
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Like most existing apps, the current match moment feels transactional rather than meaningful recognition​​​
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The experience lacked intentionality, warmth, and authentic emotional resonance
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Users wanted to feel they were making conscious decisions, not just reacting to faces
"Matching feels functional but emotionally flat, resembling typical swipe-based apps and focusing on dopamine reward rather than genuine connection."
From here, we begin to form short, open-ended questions to reframe insights from research into actionable starting points for ideation.
How might we...
1
transform matching from dopamine-driven validation into meaningful recognition that feels calm, safe, and authentic?
From here, we begin to form short, open-ended questions to reframe insights from research into actionable starting points for ideation.
How might we...
2
create intentional browsing that encourages users to engage with content rather than mindlessly swipe through profiles?
Game experience
Based on previous research, usability testing, and client feedback, we identified a fundamental disconnect in how users experience the game:
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Current game felt "like a game for its own sake," not emotionally meaningful and a bit gimmicky
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Users wanted to feel they're "playing together" with real-time interaction
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Need to transform into a "shared emotional journey" rather than a parallel task
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Not obvious that completing the game leads to revealing one's Candid profile
“Users playing with a match need to feel actively connected during the game, because real-time interaction and shared moments are what create trust and make the experience meaningful.”
How might we...
1
make users feel like they're playing with each other, not just answering the same questions separately?
2
How might we...
design progressive reveals that build anticipation and connection over time?
Ideation
Guided by the above How Might We questions, we aimed to design a match experience that feels meaningful and engaging by prioritizing recognition over validation.
Matching experience user flow
The game follows a consistent turn-based structure regardless of whether users play live or asynchronously.
Game unlocking feature user flow
Early designs
Matching experience
Option 2: Multi-reaction flow
Goal: Encourage intentional, expressive engagement.
Rationale:
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Increased time spent exploring profiles
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More personality-driven interactions
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Higher-quality matches based on what resonated, not just appearance
Option 1: Single-reaction flow
Goal: Make matching feel thoughtful, not impulsive.
Rationale:
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Limiting likes to encourage intention
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Common behavior in most dating apps
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Simpler and easier to understand
Game experience
Live game flow
Goal: Create a shared, real-time interaction with a match that lowers the barrier to starting a conversation—while remaining engaging without feeling gimmicky.
Rationale:
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Game is a familiar, low-stakes format
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Creates a shared, real-time experience
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Accelerates mutual discovery
Asynchronous play flow
Goal: Enable users to build connection through a shared experience that accommodates real-world schedules, while preserving emotional momentum and reducing pressure to respond in real time.
Rationale:
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Supports asynchronous participation
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Reduces social and timing pressure
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Maintains intentional pacing
Branding
The TwoVera design teams prior to our engagement established the core brand foundation, including the color palette, logo, and typography. We largely adhered to the existing brand guidelines to maintain consistency across the product.
However, we made a small typographic adjustment by introducing Poppins as a complementary typeface, which offered a cleaner, more legible pairing while remaining visually compatible with Raleway.
Mid-fidelity usability testing
Objectives
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How intuitive and engaging is the user feed, matching experience, and game
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Which matching approach feels clearer and more natural
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Whether users understand the dual‑profile concept and unlock mechanics
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Where usability or comprehension issues interrupt flow, clarity, or emotional connection
Results
All users found the dual-profile system to be a unique and compelling differentiator that clearly set TwoVera apart from other dating apps. The Would You Rather game emerged as a standout feature. Moments of confusion around pacing and unclear labels led to hesitation at key interaction points, indicating a need for lightweight onboarding and clearer guidance.
100%
of users liked the dual-profile concept
3/4
preferred the single-reaction matching flow, saying it felt simpler and more intuitive
100%
understood the async flow and recognized it accommodates real schedules
"Sometimes on dating apps nobody messages first. This game could help with that."
Iterations and refinements
After validating key concepts through mid-fidelity usability testing, we progressed into high-fidelity design.
Add tooltips
Increase user confidence and task completion by providing just-in-time guidance that clarifies key interactions without interrupting the core experience.
Toggle labels
Improve immediate comprehension and discoverability of the dual-profile system by making the Curated and Candid states explicit on user profile.
Game design refinements
Keep users engaged in the game with visually appealing designs that also match the aesthetic of the overall app experience.
Memorable match moment
Reinforce the dual-profile system by ending the match moment with a blurred or locked view of the Candid profile, emphasizing that the user is one step closer to unlocking their Candid side.
Takeaways
This project marked my first experience working on a UX initiative with a real client and a cross-functional team, and it became the most impactful learning experience of my program. Our team of three was distributed across Arizona, New York, and London, yet we maintained strong communication, clear ownership, and a consistent pace that allowed us to successfully deliver and hand off final designs within just four weeks.
Collaborating across time zones highlighted each team member’s unique strengths and reinforced the value of trust and accountability in group work. While the process included challenging moments, those were where the greatest growth occurred. I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to learn through real constraints, real feedback, and real collaboration.