Connexa : End to end application
Connexa
Making connections that truly matter
Project scope : Design a social connection platform that enhances safety, authenticity, and meaningful interactions, addressing key user frustrations in existing connection and dating apps
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
Choose your interactions (connections) :
Users can tap to dismiss a suggestion not Interested or tap to express interest.
Users can apply filters to the type of connections they want - for example : verified Industrial designers in California only
Preferences (connections) :
Users can change their preferences at any time to populate interests which align with their values and type of connections they desire.
Groups (connections) :
Users can also look at groups of interest based and decide to request to join groups where other like minded individuals who share their talents and skills can come together.
The Connexa Journey….
Background
Problem statement :
Existing social connection apps fail to provide a sense of safety and trust , leaving users vulnerable to privacy concerns , mismatched expectations and lacklustre interactions
Trust Issues: Only 25% of Britons trust social media platforms, with many believing these companies are inadequately regulated and lack transparency. ~BBC News
A survey revealed that 78% of users feel exhausted by dating apps, indicating a disconnect between user expectations and the experiences these platforms provide. ~Financial Times
Target audience
Individuals eager to connect over hobbies, values, or lifestyle preferences (e.g., book lovers, sustainability advocates, or food enthusiasts). People who have concerns about privacy, harassment, or fake profiles on other platforms.
Research
Why it matters ?
Most existing platforms prioritize swiping and surface-level decisions, leading to shallow interactions.
Connexa fosters authentic relationships by focusing on shared interests, values, and meaningful conversations
Competitive analysis
Goal :
The competitive analysis was to understand the strengths and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats of the competitors in the market. With this analysis i can see what areas they're performing well and what areas could be improved upon.
User Interviews
Participants :
5 participants age range : 20 - 35
Criteria :
Previous or Current Use of Connection or Dating Apps , Diversity of Experiences and Usage Patterns ,Concerns about Safety and Trust
Goal :
The interview goal was to understand users pain points , motivations , preferred features , overall experience , their perceptions of safety and needs when using these apps
Surveys
Participants :
I surveyed 30 plus individuals ranging from 18 - 45 participants were from Europe to the us and Australia.
Recordings
What is your primary goal when using a connection app ?
How important is safety and privacy on the platforms you use?
Criteria :
Current or Former Users of Connection Apps (dating, social, or lifestyle)
Adults Over 18
Goal :
The purpose of this study is to gather initial insights into user experiences with online connection apps (e.g., dating, social, and lifestyle apps), focusing on areas like safety, trust, and meaningful interactions.
Define
Affinity mapping
From the user interviews conducted , I conducted affinity maps to understand different key pain points and motivations when using social connection apps for each participant. For example some users mentioned that certain connection apps felt superficial and lacked authenticity in interactions.
Common Challenges and User Frustrations
Noted ghosting, mismatched schedules, and slow follow-through as issues.
Difficulty reaching out to people without feeling like she's bothering them
Felt that dating apps didn’t provide enough help for forming meaningful connections.
Customer Journey Mapping
The customer journey mapping help me understand the different paths the user will take and the actions user will take using their connection apps.I was able to categorise their feelings thoughts & goals in the experiences.
Feelings & thoughts
Alex feels intrigued by the idea of finding a platform that truly prioritizes meaningful connections and user safety
Past experiences with dating and connection apps have left Alex somewhat cautious, especially around privacy and safety concerns.
Alex feels hopeful that there’s an app out there that aligns with their values, where authentic connections can happen without compromising personal security
Personas
Goal :
The goal for the personas was to determine the type of users i was designing for and to gain a clearer perspective of the goals motivations and type of experiences of the users i will be designing for.
Lisa , 28 - Safety conscious connector
Goal : Lisa values safe and genuine connections and wants to ensure that she is able to connect with people who share her values and interests
Needs : Lisa needs a platform which allows her to filter her options easily which will based on shared interests
Frustration : Lisa is frustrated by fake or misleading profiles which makes her feel wary of the connections she makes on platforms
Alex , 32 - Safety conscious connector
Goal : Alex wants a smooth and seamless experience which prioritise him finding meaningful connections quickly and easily.
Needs : He needs a platform with more reliable privacy settings which allows him to manage who is able to view and contact him
Frustration : Alex is frustrated by platform which are based on superficial interactions and that make it hard for him to find quality connections
Point of View statements
POV goal:
The goal of the pov statements was to turn my research insights into clear actionable goals, i had to address the specific needs and context of their situation. Here the goal was to transform the pov statements into open ended questions which encourage idea generation.
POV statements :
Users who seek genuine and personalised connections need a way to feel like the platform they're using provided tools and allows them to connect in a meaningful way with others . without a personalisation users can experience a sense of disengagement , which impacts the platforms user retention and engagement
How Might We…
HMW create features and interaction variety that allow users to engage with other users in meaningful ways and lessen superficiality?
HMW support users into building connections by providing tools and features which offer pathways for them to connect based on their interests, values and personalisation which keeps them engaged ?
Design
User Flows
Low/Mid Fi Wireframes
Welcome screen :
Focus was on building an appealing welcome screen to engage users into the connection app , features action button to get them started , slogan and what they can expect.
Profile Feed:
I took inspiration from exsiting user profiles on user connection and dating apps , to build the structure of what the designated profile for the user would look like. The aim was to highlight and focus on key features like verification , visibility settings and interests.
Branding
Goal :
For branding it was mainly choices based on what would appeal to users who will be using the social connection app. Choices of font was Poppins - simply because and modern style.
Typography Mobile
Colour Pallet
Logo Branding
Brand Values
Safety & trust
Authenticity
Inclusivity
Exploration
Connection
Unity
Name ideas
KlubNet
KlubNec
Connexa
Nodex
Conexus
Sepure
Passiontrest
Sketches
Logo Branding
Connexa , a way to create meaningful connections…
Dynamic
Entertainment
Relationships
Final Wireframes
Home feed :
Connexa's home feed displays a personalized home feed where users can post on their feed and view their other connexas posts. Key features include an "Interest Hub" tab for exploring specific topics the user has chosen to connect with.
Safety and Verification Tools:
Connexa prioritizes user safety with features like profile verification, customizable visibility settings, and reporting options to ensure a secure and trustworthy experience.
Choose your interactions (connections) :
Users can tap to dismiss a suggestion not Interested or tap to express interest.
Users can apply filters to the type of connections they want - for example : verified Industrial designers in California only
Users can swipe for trending connections in their area , groups and search for hubs to join
Preferences (connections) :
Users can change their preferences at any time to populate interests which align with their values and type of connections they desire.
Users can apply filters to the type of connections they want - for example : verified Industrial designers in California only
Groups (connections) :
Users can also look at groups of interest based and decide to request to join groups where other like minded individuals who share their talents and skills can come together.
User Testing
Goal:
The goal of the user testing was to test the prototype to see how user would interact with the platform based on the design with this I will be able to generate feedback on the prototype and see what areas are good and what areas need improvement.
User testing tasks
Iterate
User Comments
Inconsistent capitalization in interest and value lists.
Missing profile picture in the initial profile view
The top navigation bar was misaligned on some screens.
User Feedback
Carolyn liked the clean design and the picture in the background.
She appreciated the step-by-step guidance during onboarding.
She found the safety resources section helpful.
She liked the overall message format and background.
Next steps
Provide clear visual confirmation (e.g., checkmarks, success messages) after completing actions like ID verification, saving settings, or adding interests.
Automatically progress users to the next step after completing a task, or provide a clear call to action.
Conclusion
What i’m proud of
I am most proud of how Connexa's core values—safety, trust, and meaningful connection—were successfully translated into a cohesive design. This project not only strengthened my understanding of user-cantered design but also reinforced the importance of balancing innovation with empathy to create impactful digital experiences. My next steps would be to test the platform with a broader audience, gather feedback for additional improvements, and explore opportunities to expand Connexa's features for even greater engagement.