PROJECT TITLE
InSynque – Music-Based Dating App
Duration
March - May 2024
Role
User Experience Design
User Interface Design
Business Analyst
Tools
Jira
Confluence
Figma
MS Streams
Design Highlights
Profiles feature favourite artists, genre, and songs to highlight music taste.
Users see both personal and music compatibility scores when viewing matches.
Clean, simple interface with music-inspired colours and icons.
Easy-to-use safety tools like selfie verification and a quick block/report button.
Built-in messaging lets users chat, send emojis, photos, and voice notes after matching.
OVERVIEW
Description
InSynque is a music-based dating app built to help people connect over their shared love of music. The app combines real-time data from well-known music streaming services with traditional dating elements, targeting a generation that defines themselves by playlists, concerts, and daily mixes. Through music profiles, users can display their favourite songs, investigate compatibility, and initiate discussions based on similar musical tastes.
Problem
InSynque was created in response to the widening gap between how individuals express themselves via music and how dating applications work. Existing platforms prioritise appearance and surface-level bios, frequently missing personality and personal taste. Despite music being one of the most powerful cultural and emotional links, no dating platform effectively capitalised on it. This divide left many users feeling detached and uninspired, seeking for a more genuine and meaningful method to meet others.
Goals
The objective was to design a dating platform that was emotionally refreshing, culturally relevant, and safe. InSynque needed to prioritise music discovery and compatibility while still providing recognisable, user-friendly functionality like as profile setup, chatting, and match suggestions. Functionally, the app needed to sync seamlessly with music platforms, provide secure sign-up and authentication, and promote respectful communication. Visually, the identity aspired to be modern, expressive, and minimal.
BACKGROUND
Vision
InSynque is more than just dating; it is about connecting via music. The goal was to build a platform where shared sound became shared experience. Users should feel as if they are entering a setting that values personal expression, emotional resonance, and cultural taste from the moment they tap. The product needed to reflect the rhythm of its users: intuitive, expressive, and safe. We wanted it to seem like a mini music festival in your pocket: personal, playful, and unforgettable.
Process
1
Research
User Interviews
Competitor Scan
2
Discovery
User Persona
User Journey
3
Definition
User Flow
Low Fidelity
Mid Fidelity
4
Final Design
Responsive UI
RESEARCH
User Interviews
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with university students who use dating apps and music streaming services. The purpose was to look into dating practices, safety concerns, and the emotional impact of music in relationships.
Key Takeaways
Users believed that musical taste is a deep reflection of personality, and exchanging playlists is a common early relationship habit.
Concerns about fake profiles, harassment, and data privacy were consistently raised.
Many users were skeptical of dating apps’ match quality and wanted better context behind matches.
Playlist sharing and music compatibility were seen as fun and meaningful.
Personas Developed From Interviews
Alice (22, Musicology Graduate, Indie Rock Fan)
Bob (25, Software Engineer, Electronic/Classical Blend)
Charlie (22, Casual App User, Nightlife Enthusiast)
These insights had a direct impact on the app's emphasis on music-first profiles, dual compatibility scores, safety procedures, and expressive communication capabilities such as audio messages and playlist integration.
Competitor Scan
I examined dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge as well as music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, to better understand how they handle user profiles, interest matching, and personalisation. Most dating apps treat music as a secondary component, whereas music platforms lack significant social or matching capabilities. InSynque wanted to be in the middle, combining the emotional impact of music with the interaction design of dating applications.
DISCOVERY
User Personas
Alice, 22
Musicology Graduate
Nottingham, UK
Alice enjoys finding new sounds. She frequently attends bands, curates playlists like mood boards, and feels that music speaks more about a person than a bio. She is friendly, open-minded, and looking for someone to connect with, perhaps over a live show or a shared mix.
Goals
Find someone who shares her music taste
Discover matches through shared playlists
Build a genuine connection, not just swipe-based flings
Bob, 25
Software Engineer
Manchester, UK
Bob enjoys festivals, extended listening sessions, and navigating through streaming platforms for hidden gems. He's rational but imaginative, and he's looking for more than just casual dating. For him, music is more than just background noise; it's a genuine means to connect.
Goals
Match based on shared genres or artists
Use music as a talking point
Explore a meaningful relationship through shared experiences
Charlie, 22
Marketing Assistant
London, UK
Charlie is all about nightlife, DJ performances, and spontaneous plans. He's outgoing, confident, and prefers casual interactions. Music, in his opinion, is the ideal icebreaker: it's quick, entertaining, and energetic.
Goals
Meet people with similar music energy
Keep things light and casual
Discover new artists and party spots through others
User Journey
Alice, 22
Discovery
Sees a TikTok about InSynque showing two people matched through their shared love of Tame Impala.
Landing
Downloads the app and signs up using her Apple Music account to sync her listening history.
Browse
Explores profiles filtered by top genres and sees music match scores on each. Listens to a match’s mini-mix and likes what she hears.
Engage
Matches with someone who shares her favourite artists. They chat, exchange songs, and laugh over their “Bluey” guilty pleasures.
Convert
Adds the match’s song to her own playlist, feels the spark, and plans to meet at a local gig next weekend.
DEFINITION
User Flow
This user flow shows Alice using the InSynque app, including creating a profile, matching with Bob, and reporting Charlie if necessary. It emphasises important procedures including uploading photographs, joining music accounts, viewing matches, and ensuring discussion safety. Approaching the aim of making dating more enjoyable, personal, and secure.
Low Fidelity
Early wireframes focused on guiding users through profile setup, music integration, and security features like photo verification. The aim was to keep layouts simple and intuitive.
Mid Fidelity
At this stage, I translated the sketches into structured wireframes to explore layout, flow, and user interactions. These wireframes mapped out user flows like browsing, matching, and reporting. The goal was to visualise how users would move through the app.
Final Designs
Onboarding Process
The onboarding flow was built for speed and clarity. Users can sign up with email or social logins, verify their profile with guided photo capture, and connect their music platform (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music). Visual cues like button hierarchy, icon use, and soft transitions help keep a smooth and user-friendly experience.
Main Screen
The main screen takes music to the centre stage. Displaying top artists, mini-mix previews, and compatibility scores. With a single press, users can browse matches or dive straight into messages. Design-wise, I used consistent spacing, bold CTAs, and high contrast text for readability, while keeping the layout flexible for mobile use.
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CREATED BY WESLEY NOSA