LASKA

Dating app focused on safe, meaningful connections

UX/UI Design 12-week project

OVERVIEW

Laska is a mobile dating app designed to help users move beyond endless chatting by making it easy to build trust and plan real-life dates. The app combines identity verification, interest-based matching, and built-in scheduling to create a safer and more intentional dating experience.

YEAR

2026

ROLE

UX Designer

PROJECT GOAL

Design a dating experience that improves trust and safety while making it easier for users to move from matching to real-life dates.

About the project

Laska is a concept dating app designed to create a more intentional and secure dating experience. Unlike traditional platforms that prioritize swiping and endless messaging, Laska focuses on building trust and helping users move toward real-life connections through identity verification, interest-based matching, and built-in date scheduling.

The Challenge

THE PROBLEM

Modern dating apps often prioritize engagement over meaningful outcomes, leading to low trust, safety concerns, and matches that rarely turn into real-life connections.


  • Unverified profiles reduce trust

  • In-person meetings feel unsafe

  • Interactions remain surface-level

How might we help users feel safe and build real connections beyond swiping?

Understanding the user

To better understand user behavior and expectations, I conducted surveys and usability testing with people who actively use dating apps.

KEY INSIGHTS


  • Safety is a top priority when meeting new people

  • Users want meaningful connections, not endless chatting

  • Trust-building features like verification and video calls increase confidence

  • Users want a smoother way to move from matching to real-life dates

User Persona

The journey map highlights how users move from onboarding to real-life interaction, revealing key moments where trust, safety, and clarity are critical to the experience.

Defining the solution

Based on these insights, I focused on designing a solution that addresses three key areas:


  1. Build trust through identity verification and profile transparency

  2. Encourage real connections through interest-based matching

  3. Simplify date with built-in scheduling and reminders

Ideation

I started with paper wireframes to quickly explore layout ideas and define the core user flow. The goal was to create a simple and intuitive experience for browsing profiles, connecting with matches, and scheduling dates.

Design Process

The final design focuses on clarity, trust, and a seamless transition from matching to real-life interaction. Key features include identity verification, intuitive navigation, and built-in date scheduling to support meaningful connections.

The user flow maps the step-by-step interactions within the app, focusing on how users navigate from matching to scheduling and completing a date.

A consistent visual system was developed to unify the interface, including color, typography, and reusable components, ensuring clarity and scalability across the product.

Testing & Iteration

To validate design decisions, I conducted multiple rounds of testing, including surveys, preference tests, and usability testing.

What I learned

  • Users strongly prioritized safety features such as location sharing and emergency support

  • Profile setup caused confusion, especially around selecting a primary photo

  • The match confirmation experience lacked clear next steps

  • Larger, more readable typography improved clarity and trust

What I changed

  • Introduced a post-scheduling safety flow with reminders, emergency contacts, and location sharing

  • Redesigned the profile setup screen to clearly highlight the primary profile photo

  • Added a match confirmation overlay with clear actions like “Start Chatting”

  • Updated typography to improve readability and visual hierarchy

Final Design

The final design focuses on clarity, trust, and a seamless transition from matching to real-life interaction. Key features include identity verification, intuitive navigation, and built-in date scheduling to support meaningful connections.

Outcome & Impact

The final design delivers a more intentional and user-centered dating experience by prioritizing trust, safety, and real-world interaction. Clearer navigation, improved visual hierarchy, and integrated safety features help users feel more confident and move from matching to real-life connections more seamlessly.

Key Futures

Key Futures

Identity Verification

Ensures profiles are authentic and builds user trust

Built-in Date Scheduling

Helps users move from matching to real-life meetings

Safety Flow

Supports users with reminders, location sharing, and emergency tools

Smooth Scroll
This will hide itself!

LASKA

Dating app focused on safe, meaningful connections

UX/UI Design 12-week project

OVERVIEW

Laska is a mobile dating app designed to help users move beyond endless chatting by making it easy to build trust and plan real-life dates. The app combines identity verification, interest-based matching, and built-in scheduling to create a safer and more intentional dating experience.

YEAR

2026

ROLE

UX Designer

PROJECT GOAL

Design a dating experience that improves trust and safety while making it easier for users to move from matching to real-life dates.

About the project

Laska is a concept dating app designed to create a more intentional and secure dating experience. Unlike traditional platforms that prioritize swiping and endless messaging, Laska focuses on building trust and helping users move toward real-life connections through identity verification, interest-based matching, and built-in date scheduling.

The Challenge

THE PROBLEM

Modern dating apps often prioritize engagement over meaningful outcomes, leading to low trust, safety concerns, and matches that rarely turn into real-life connections.


  • Unverified profiles reduce trust

  • In-person meetings feel unsafe

  • Interactions remain surface-level

How might we help users feel safe and build real connections beyond swiping?

Understanding the user

To better understand user behavior and expectations, I conducted surveys and usability testing with people who actively use dating apps.

KEY INSIGHTS


  • Safety is a top priority when meeting new people

  • Users want meaningful connections, not endless chatting

  • Trust-building features like verification and video calls increase confidence

  • Users want a smoother way to move from matching to real-life dates

User Persona

The journey map highlights how users move from onboarding to real-life interaction, revealing key moments where trust, safety, and clarity are critical to the experience.

Defining the solution

Based on these insights, I focused on designing a solution that addresses three key areas:


  1. Build trust through identity verification and profile transparency

  2. Encourage real connections through interest-based matching

  3. Simplify date with built-in scheduling and reminders

Ideation

I started with paper wireframes to quickly explore layout ideas and define the core user flow. The goal was to create a simple and intuitive experience for browsing profiles, connecting with matches, and scheduling dates.

Design Process

The final design focuses on clarity, trust, and a seamless transition from matching to real-life interaction. Key features include identity verification, intuitive navigation, and built-in date scheduling to support meaningful connections.

The user flow maps the step-by-step interactions within the app, focusing on how users navigate from matching to scheduling and completing a date.

A consistent visual system was developed to unify the interface, including color, typography, and reusable components, ensuring clarity and scalability across the product.

Testing & Iteration

To validate design decisions, I conducted multiple rounds of testing, including surveys, preference tests, and usability testing.

What I learned

  • Users strongly prioritized safety features such as location sharing and emergency support

  • Profile setup caused confusion, especially around selecting a primary photo

  • The match confirmation experience lacked clear next steps

  • Larger, more readable typography improved clarity and trust

What I changed

  • Introduced a post-scheduling safety flow with reminders, emergency contacts, and location sharing

  • Redesigned the profile setup screen to clearly highlight the primary profile photo

  • Added a match confirmation overlay with clear actions like “Start Chatting”

  • Updated typography to improve readability and visual hierarchy

Final Design

The final design focuses on clarity, trust, and a seamless transition from matching to real-life interaction. Key features include identity verification, intuitive navigation, and built-in date scheduling to support meaningful connections.

Outcome & Impact

The final design delivers a more intentional and user-centered dating experience by prioritizing trust, safety, and real-world interaction. Clearer navigation, improved visual hierarchy, and integrated safety features help users feel more confident and move from matching to real-life connections more seamlessly.

Key Futures

Key Futures

Identity Verification

Ensures profiles are authentic and builds user trust

Built-in Date Scheduling

Helps users move from matching to real-life meetings

Safety Flow

Supports users with reminders, location sharing, and emergency tools

Smooth Scroll
This will hide itself!

LASKA

Dating app focused on safe, meaningful connections

UX/UI Design 12-week project

OVERVIEW

Laska is a mobile dating app designed to help users move beyond endless chatting by making it easy to build trust and plan real-life dates. The app combines identity verification, interest-based matching, and built-in scheduling to create a safer and more intentional dating experience.

YEAR

2026

ROLE

UX Designer

PROJECT GOAL

Design a dating experience that improves trust and safety while making it easier for users to move from matching to real-life dates.

About the project

Laska is a concept dating app designed to create a more intentional and secure dating experience. Unlike traditional platforms that prioritize swiping and endless messaging, Laska focuses on building trust and helping users move toward real-life connections through identity verification, interest-based matching, and built-in date scheduling.

The Challenge

THE PROBLEM

Modern dating apps often prioritize engagement over meaningful outcomes, leading to low trust, safety concerns, and matches that rarely turn into real-life connections.


  • Unverified profiles reduce trust

  • In-person meetings feel unsafe

  • Interactions remain surface-level

How might we help users feel safe and build real connections beyond swiping?

Understanding the user

To better understand user behavior and expectations, I conducted surveys and usability testing with people who actively use dating apps.

KEY INSIGHTS


  • Safety is a top priority when meeting new people

  • Users want meaningful connections, not endless chatting

  • Trust-building features like verification and video calls increase confidence

  • Users want a smoother way to move from matching to real-life dates

User Persona

The journey map highlights how users move from onboarding to real-life interaction, revealing key moments where trust, safety, and clarity are critical to the experience.

Defining the solution

Based on these insights, I focused on designing a solution that addresses three key areas:


  1. Build trust through identity verification and profile transparency

  2. Encourage real connections through interest-based matching

  3. Simplify date with built-in scheduling and reminders

Ideation

I started with paper wireframes to quickly explore layout ideas and define the core user flow. The goal was to create a simple and intuitive experience for browsing profiles, connecting with matches, and scheduling dates.

Design Process

The final design focuses on clarity, trust, and a seamless transition from matching to real-life interaction. Key features include identity verification, intuitive navigation, and built-in date scheduling to support meaningful connections.

The user flow maps the step-by-step interactions within the app, focusing on how users navigate from matching to scheduling and completing a date.

A consistent visual system was developed to unify the interface, including color, typography, and reusable components, ensuring clarity and scalability across the product.

Testing & Iteration

To validate design decisions, I conducted multiple rounds of testing, including surveys, preference tests, and usability testing.

What I learned

  • Users strongly prioritized safety features such as location sharing and emergency support

  • Profile setup caused confusion, especially around selecting a primary photo

  • The match confirmation experience lacked clear next steps

  • Larger, more readable typography improved clarity and trust

What I changed

  • Introduced a post-scheduling safety flow with reminders, emergency contacts, and location sharing

  • Redesigned the profile setup screen to clearly highlight the primary profile photo

  • Added a match confirmation overlay with clear actions like “Start Chatting”

  • Updated typography to improve readability and visual hierarchy

Final Design

The final design focuses on clarity, trust, and a seamless transition from matching to real-life interaction. Key features include identity verification, intuitive navigation, and built-in date scheduling to support meaningful connections.

Outcome & Impact

The final design delivers a more intentional and user-centered dating experience by prioritizing trust, safety, and real-world interaction. Clearer navigation, improved visual hierarchy, and integrated safety features help users feel more confident and move from matching to real-life connections more seamlessly.

Key Futures

Key Futures

Identity Verification

Ensures profiles are authentic and builds user trust

Built-in Date Scheduling

Helps users move from matching to real-life meetings

Safety Flow

Supports users with reminders, location sharing, and emergency tools

Smooth Scroll
This will hide itself!