Designing Vinita: A More Intentional Dating Experience
Introduction
In 2022, I explored how dating apps could prioritize emotional well-being over engagement metrics. Back then, Vinita was a concept project where I conducted competitive analysis, defined design principles, and created high-fidelity UI designs for a calmer, more intentional dating experience.
Screens from the Vinita dating app showing onboarding, love language selection, reporting abuse, and account deletion confirmation.
Why this mattered
Most dating apps encourage quick, surface-level interactions that lead to fatigue and low trust. How might we design a calmer, more intentional experience that helps users form meaningful connections?
Analyzing competitors revealed five recurring themes shaping today’s dating experiences. Together, they highlighted how Vinita can create a calmer, more authentic alternative.
Safety & trust
Emotional fatigue
Authenticity
Mindfulness
Monetization pressure
Key competitors
I analyzed four major platforms present in South Asia (DilMil, Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge) to understand the dating app landscape and identify differentiation opportunities.
Screenshot of an analysis comparing DilMil, Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge across various features such as target audience, safety features, monetization, user base, integrations, chat options, etc.
Findings
The dating app ecosystem is currently built around speed, scarcity, and performance. Users are drawn into patterns of quick judgment and low emotional reward, resulting in fatigue and disconnection.
Gamification drives fatigue: Swipe mechanics prioritize quantity over quality (Tinder)
Urgency creates pressure: Time limits force rushed decisions (Bumble's 24-hour rule)
Safety builds trust: Strong verification increases user confidence (DilMil)
Prompts add depth: Conversation starters help users express personality (Hinge)
Vinita has the opportunity to redefine this space by designing for emotional depth, trust, and mindfulness. Instead of competing for attention, it can help users reconnect with intention and authenticity.
What came out of it
The final designs reflect Vinita’s core values of mindfulness, warmth, and emotional clarity. Each flow and screen was crafted to make users feel supported, seen, and in control of their experience.
Screens from the design process showing the evolution of the profile layout from content structure and wireframe to the final high-fidelity design.
Onboarding
The onboarding flow was designed to feel simple, friendly, and personal. Each screen helps users share a bit more about themselves in a natural way. The goal was to create a smooth experience that builds trust and excitement right from the start, while keeping interactions short and intuitive.
Screens from the Vinita dating app showing the onboarding flow, personality trait selection, photo upload, and notification setup.
Safety
The verification flow was designed to promote trust and transparency. Each step communicates clearly what’s happening and why, helping users feel confident that their privacy is protected.
Screens from the Vinita dating app showing the the identity verification flow.
Empty states
Added to guide users through moments of friction without frustration. Each message uses a calm, reassuring tone and a hint of personality to keep the experience positive.
Empty state screens from the Vinita dating app showing messages for a missing page, hidden profile, lost connection, and maintenance mode.
Looking back
Working on Vinita helped me see how empathy and small design decisions can make digital experiences feel calmer and more human. I learned that clear communication and gentle pacing can build trust just as much as visual design.
That’s my story. What’s yours?
Designing Vinita made me think a lot about how we connect, both online and offline. If you’re into intentional design, human-centered UX, or just want to chat about making tech feel calmer, let’s connect.