Heart to Heart

An application that helps support long distance relationships between partners.

Category
Class Project

Duration
January 2021 - April 2021

Role
UX Designer and Researcher

Tools
Adobe XD, Figma

FINAL PROTOTYPE

Empathize

Problem Space

Goals and Objectives

Questions

Research Takeaways

How do we design a mobile app to support a particular kind of relationship at a distance?

The purpose of my project is to help facilitate and sustain romantic engagement between partners. It has become increasingly difficult for people to be able to keep in touch regularly due to the pandemic. Even without the advent of Covid-19, long distance relationships are difficult to maintain from both sides due to lack of communication, trust, and other issues. I want to create an application that helps sustain and nurture this communication so that the relationship between romantic partners does not break down while they are unable to see each other. I decided to choose established long distance romantic relationships as the core focus for this project because I wanted to challenge myself and focus on a user group that I have not been a part of before.

Discover existing problems and pain points of long distance relationships
Increase engagement and deepen relationship between romantic partners who are in long distance relationships
Provide fun and exciting activities for both parties to interact both synchronously and asynchronously
Put emotional design at the forefront

How are people currently maintaining long distance romantic relationships (including what applications if any)?
What has been the most difficult part of trying to keep relationships alive?
What already exists that helps romantic partners keep in touch? Are they working?
What typically causes a fallout in a romantic relationship (e.g. reasons for breaking up/divorcing)?
What are ways to deepen romantic feelings towards a partner/partners?

My user research found many commonalities in user responses between three methods utilized (survey, user interviews, and secondary research).

Common ways of maintaining contact include scheduling calls and using messaging apps
- Topics of these communications are typically about one's day
- Users find it difficult to find time to speak with partners due to busy or conflicting schedules
Many users expressed seeing their partner's face is most important when communicating with one another through digital means
Many users found the most difficult part was not knowing what their partner was up to, and not being physically there for them
Use of funny stickers, emojis, and gifs help brighten mood and facilitate closeness/deepen feelings
Use of implicit cues (vibrations) complemented explicit forms (text/call)
- Allows couples to minimize reciprocal obligation (difficult to maintain if both parties have busy schedules that make synchronous contact difficult)
- Vibrational cues that sent location information allowed people to infer where their partner was
  - Provides way to judge how appropriate it is to contact them through text or call
  - Beneficial for those in different time zones

Overcoming obstacles of long distance includes strengthening communication, company, and understanding

Communication incredibly important; “talking it out”, “interaction on a regular scheduled basis”, and “connection skills" common responses
Difficulties of long distance relationships was another prevalent theme; sub-themes include time, “keeping a schedule”, and “not responding to texts in timely manner”
Current behaviors was another theme, which included “entertainment”, “games”, and “chat”

Affinity Map Takeaways

Virtual gifts (hugs, kisses, and messages)

Ability to send physical affection in the form of virtual hugs or kisses
Allows receiver to reciprocate

Location tracker + Vibration
Way to infer how appropriate it is to contact them
Work when users are outside and moving around
Does not require consistent direct contact with partner

Virtual Gifts
- Abilityt to send physical affection in the form of virtual hugs or kisses
- Allows reciever to recriprocate
- Location Tracker + Vibration
- Way to infer how appropriate it is to contact partner
- Works when users are outside and moving around
- Does not require consistent direct contact with partner

Define

Persona

My target audience are those who are in established, monogamous, and romantic relationships, such as those who are dating, engaged, or married, no matter the age range.