Hinge (Wingman)
Bridging Digital Conversations to Real-World Dates
[UX/UI] [Product][Concept][AI]
Overview
This concept project explores the design of Wingman, a feature suite within Hinge aimed at enhancing interactions between matches on the dating app by addressing the unique challenges users face during digital conversations and the transition to in-person meetups. Wingman supports more authentic and intentional communication to help users successfully land first dates through its ethical AI integration, music streaming service connection, and collaborative date planning tool.
Team
Yoon Han
Johyeon Lee
Duration
2 months
Tools
Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, ChatGPT
Research
Designed for Real Connections
Hinge markets itself as “the dating app designed to be deleted,” a philosophy that sets it apart from other platforms by emphasizing meaningful, lasting relationships over casual swiping. This mission shapes the app’s design and user experience, guiding individuals through four key stages: Onboarding, Discovery & Matching, Messaging & Interaction, and Offboarding. Unlike many dating apps that prioritize quantity over quality, Hinge focuses on helping users form genuine connections they can carry into the real world.
While Hinge offers a robust system for matching users through its onboarding and discovery tools, the progression of a match is largely left to users to navigate on their own through a simple messaging interface. This opens up an opportunity for Hinge to better support users in developing meaningful and lasting relationships beyond the match.
Recognizing this gap, we explored how Hinge might better support users through the Messaging & Interaction stage, where matches often lose momentum without thoughtful tools to help build connection and move things forward.
Studying Interactions Between Daters Through Generative Research
To better understand how users communicate and form connections with matches, we implemented the following research methods:
4 User Interviews conducted with 3 dating app users and 1 offline dater.
47 Survey Responses collected anonymously through Google Forms.
2 Competitor Analyses of the most downloaded dating apps in 2024, Tinder and Bumble.
8 Secondary Sources referenced including UX studies, dating behavior research, and industry reports.
From Hinge's Gen Z D.A.T.E Report 2024 (secondary source).
Define
Mapping the Modern Dating Experience
We synthesized our research findings using affinity mapping, persona creation, and journey mapping to uncover users’ communication patterns and behaviors in both online and offline dating environments.
Affinity mapping.
Persona 1; Matt's pain points, needs, and goals.
Persona 2; Lauren's pain points, needs, and goals.
The following key insights revealed user pain points and needs that directly shaped our designs:
Early conversations should feel safe, casual, and natural.
Users want to keep things light by referencing dating profiles and exploring shared interests, rather than diving too quickly into serious or potentially uncomfortable topics.Intent is expressed and interpreted through both digital and physical cues.
Just as body language adds meaning to spoken communication, digital body language (DBL) influences how messages are perceived through factors such as response time, tone, message length, and grammar or spelling.Initiating and planning dates can be difficult.
When online interactions go well, users want to transition to in-person meetings. In heterosexual relationships, the expectation for men to initiate and plan dates can feel burdensome, though many women are open to sharing that responsibility.Successful first dates prioritize connection and comfort over perfection.
Users consistently value an easygoing atmosphere that allows genuine connection to unfold, rather than focusing on the specific details of a first date. Mutual comfort and flexibility matter more than trying to impress with a flawless plan, especially since everyone has a different idea of what makes a perfect date.
The Problem
We found that dating app users are struggling to form meaningful connections and experience emotional fatigue due to dull and repetitive conversations, confusion over digital body language, and anxiety around in-person meetings. Over time, repeated unsuccessful attempts at online dating can lead to burnout, prompting users to delete or pause their accounts after losing faith in the platforms.
Ideate
Exploring Concepts and Setting Priorities
We began the ideation phase with quick sketching sessions to generate a wide range of feature ideas based on user needs.
Early sketches of Wingman.
To narrow down which features to pursue, we used the MoSCoW method (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won’t have) to evaluate each concept based on feasibility, user impact, and alignment with our project goals.
Some interesting ideas that emerged during this phase but were ultimately set aside included:
AI-generated message suggestions, which could feel disingenuous during the early stages of getting to know someone. While potentially helpful for reducing messaging friction, relying on AI to craft responses risks creating interactions that don’t reflect the user's true personality. It could also act as a crutch, leaving users unprepared for spontaneous, in-person conversations where the tool isn’t available.
In-chat games, which could have helped spark more natural conversations, but presented challenges in feasibility and appeal. The concept catered to a niche audience and potentially encouraged prolonged in-app engagement, conflicting with Hinge’s reputation for being "the dating app designed to be deleted."
MoSCoW prioritization.
Integrating AI with Intention
As we began developing feature concepts for Wingman, it became clear that some of our ideas would require AI in order to be effective. These tools depended on the ability to analyze user behavior and summarize conversations in a meaningful and personalized way. While AI wasn’t the core focus of our concept, its implementation became necessary to bring certain features to life.
Before moving into the design phase, we included a few AI-related questions in a broader survey about dating and communication. These questions explored how users felt about the use of AI in dating apps. Out of 47 participants, 25 (53.2%) said they were either fully open to it or open to it if it supported authentic and meaningful connections.
Survey data on the use of AI in dating apps.
At the same time, we recognized concerns from both users and secondary sources. Some warned of the potential for people to become overly dependent on technology, which could reduce personal agency and make spontaneous, genuine communication more difficult. Others highlighted risks around data privacy and consent, particularly as dating apps already collect large amounts of personal information.
In response, we established a set of intentional boundaries to guide AI integration in Wingman:
User control first.
AI-powered features are opt-in, with clear settings that allow users to disable their influence.No generative AI.
Avoid tools that generate or suggest responses on behalf of the user. The goal is to facilitate authentic and meaningful communication, not automate it.Insights only, not optimization.
AI is used to reflect communication patterns and summarize conversation details, offering context and awareness rather than direct advice or performance coaching.
By exploring user sentiment early on and defining strict ethical guardrails, we were able to use AI in an intentional and transparent way. This approach supported more thoughtful and confident interactions while maintaining trust and preserving human authenticity.
Alert banner and settings toggle for Wingman's AI features.
To better understand how Wingman could leverage AI, we input sample chat data into ChatGPT to simulate the kind of conversational analysis the concept required. This process helped us prototype how insights might be surfaced to users and informed design decisions that prioritized clarity, accuracy, and emotional sensitivity.
Design
Wingman’s Tools for Better Dating
Wingman is a feature suite within Hinge inspired by the trusted role of a wingman in romantic settings. A wingman offers support, encouragement, and guidance to help someone connect with confidence. Similarly, Hinge’s Wingman helps users communicate authentically, transition smoothly to in-person dates, and build more intentional relationships. Each function within Wingman is designed to meet key user needs uncovered during research.
Wingman is introduced through a dedicated feature onboarding experience that clearly explains each of its four tools:
Feature onboarding modal.
Digital Decode: Understand Your DBL
Users often express and interpret intent and interest through subtle messaging patterns, such as response time and tone. Digital Decode uses AI to analyze your messaging habits and provide insights on average response time, time of day messages are sent, tone trends, grammar and spelling, message length, and emoji usage. This tool promotes greater self-awareness and helps users communicate more intentionally.
Sound Check: Connect Through Music
Early conversations feel more natural and enjoyable when they are grounded in shared interests. Sound Check allows users to link a music streaming account so matches can view common artists, favorite tracks, or playlists. This feature helps spark meaningful conversation in a relaxed, authentic way.
Meet Cute: Plan Collaborative, Stress-Free Dates
Many users want to meet in person but find that initiating and planning dates can be awkward, one-sided, or stressful. Meet Cute offers a simple and collaborative way to coordinate meetups. Matches can suggest dates, times, and activities together, making it easier to move from chatting to meeting in real life without unnecessary pressure.
Set a day and time.
Add entries from Wingman's recommendations or by searching keywords.
After review, send request and wait for match to edit details or confirm the date. Wingman sends users a reminder 24 hours before a scheduled Meet Cute, encouraging them to check-in and reconfirm with their match.
Match Memos: Bring Conversations into Focus
Recalling small details can make a big difference in early conversations. Match Memos uses AI to summarize key facts from a chat, such as favorite activities, shared interests, or ongoing topics. Users can view this information in two formats: a note-style layout for quick scanning, or a flashcard view for easy review before a date. Both formats help users stay prepared, present, and thoughtful during interactions.
Prototyping a Meaningful Connection
To demonstrate how Wingman supports real users, we created an interactive prototypes based on our personas, Matt and Lauren. Their journey highlights how Wingman's features guide users from casual messaging to meaningful in-person connection.
Matt and Lauren begin by discovering shared music tastes through Sound Check, which helps spark an authentic, low-pressure conversation. (Part 1/4)
As their interaction continues, Digital Decode helps Matt reflect on his communication habits, encouraging more intentional and timely replies. (Part 2/4)
When they decide to meet, Meet Cute makes planning the first date collaborative and stress-free. (Part 3/4)
Prior to the date, Match Memos allows Matt to revisit key details from their chats, helping him feel confident and prepared. 24 hours before the scheduled Meet Cute, Wingman sends a push notification and displays a confirmation modal, encouraging Matt to message Lauren and reconfirm the date. (Part 4/4)
Reflection
Centering Humans in a Sensitive, AI-Supported Experience
Designing Wingman challenged me to think more critically about how digital products can support emotionally nuanced experiences like dating. While many apps prioritize efficiency or novelty, this project pushed me to focus on human connection, particularly in the uncertain space between matching and meeting. One of the most meaningful takeaways was learning how to integrate AI in a way that feels ethical and transparent. Rather than using it to optimize performance, I focused on how it could support self-awareness, communication clarity, and confidence.
Next Steps
If developed further, I would conduct user testing to refine the language and presentation of insights in Digital Decode and Match Memos. This would help fine-tune how the language model interprets and expresses conversation data in a way that feels accurate, clear, and emotionally sensitive. For Meet Cute, I would focus on evaluating the usability of its collaborative flow, as coordinating mutual input can introduce complexity. I would also explore how Wingman influences user engagement, trust, and the ability to confidently move from messaging to real-life connection.