Connexa: Where Real Connections Begin🧩
My role : Lead UX/UI Designer responsible for user research, interface design, and prototyping.
Industry : Lifestyle , social media
Toolkit : Figma, Illustrator and photoshop
Timeline : Q4 2024
Project scope : Design a social connection platform that enhances safety, authenticity, and meaningful interactions, addressing key user frustrations in existing connection and dating apps
Designing for Deeper Connections
Modern connection apps leave users feeling unsafe, disconnected, and overwhelmed. Research showed users want authenticity, not endless swiping.
Trust Issues: Only 25% of Britons trust social media platforms, with many believing these companies are inadequately regulated and lack transparency. ~BBC News
We asked Users, Former users and people looking to use connection apps :
“I’m tired of feeling like just another profile picture.”
Sara 34 - Former Tinder user
How might we give users more authentic ways to engage, so they can build connections beyond surface-level interactions?
Turning Insights into Action
Listening to real users showed us that connection apps needed more than quick matches — they needed authenticity, trust, and shared passions. Guided by these insights, Connexa was designed to create safer, deeper, and more meaningful connections. Every decision, from onboarding to interaction flows, was shaped around the real experiences and frustrations we uncovered.
Feature Prioritization
Proposed solutions
🔒 Verification & Safety System
Building user trust through multi-layer verification processes.
🎨 Interest-Based Hubs
Connecting users around shared passions, not appearances.
💬 Discussion Rooms
Spaces for real conversations on topics that matter.
✨ Icebreaker Library
Helping users start authentic conversations confidently.
📱Designing for Calm & Clarity
Onboarding ,Verification & Interests
Onboarding / Welcome Screen
"A safer, more meaningful way to connect from the very first step."
Verification Step
Multi-layer verification helps ensure users are real and trustworthy.
Hub Selection Screen
Users connect through passions, choosing hubs that match their values and interests.
Testing, Revisions & Applied Feedback
Early user feedback and testing revealed that while Connexa's core ideas resonated, some screens needed more emotional warmth and clarity to fully deliver a feeling of trust and ease. We refined key parts of the onboarding and exploration journey based on these insights.
Final Solution
🚀 What's Next ?
As Connexa continues to evolve, the next key focus is on enhancing personalization and interaction. This includes introducing intelligent recommendations based on shared values and behavior, and expanding low-pressure connection methods like polls, prompts, or group voice chats within Interest Hubs. These features will deepen engagement and make connections feel more natural and authentic. Future efforts will also prioritize building a more structured notification system and preparing for development handoff through a scalable design system.