Gamification of Love

A UNIVERSITY PROJECT that reimagines Tinder’s design to highlight its psychological risks, such as addiction and low self-esteem, through awareness-driven visuals.

Role

Sole (academic) Researcher & Designer

Year

2025

Tools

Figma

Deliverable(s)

Research Paper, Design Proposal

problem

Tinder's design fuels addiction and mental health issues in modern dating.

Through in-depth research into Tinder's UI/UX design, I uncovered significant psychological impacts on users, including social media addiction driven by gamified swiping mechanics, choice overload from endless profiles leading to decision fatigue, and a strong promotion of hookup culture that fosters casual relationships over meaningful connections. These elements contribute to declining mental health, such as low self-esteem, depression, feelings of emotional unfulfillment, and unhealthy habits like excessive app usage, often stemming from design choices optimized for user retention rather than well-being.

solution

Redesigned Tinder UI with warnings to promote responsible use and awareness.

To address these issues, I proposed a redesigned Tinder interface that mirrors the original app's appearance but integrates prominent warnings, banners, pop-ups, and reminders to highlight hidden risks like addiction and emotional fatigue, drawing inspiration from cigarette packaging's transparent harm disclosures. The solution prioritizes user-friendliness with features such as well-being check-ins and direct contacts for mental health support, aiming to challenge Tinder to evolve into a healthier platform that encourages responsible exploration of romantic interests while raising awareness and calling for systemic change.

process

Academic research and iterative design inspired by real-world transparency models.

My process began with comprehensive academic research, including case studies, psychological theories, and real-world impacts analyzed through Tinder's UI components like swiping and gamification, to identify core problems. From there, I drew inspiration from transparent warning systems in products like cigarettes to iteratively create wireframes and mockups in a phone format, ensuring the designs balanced familiarity with new elements for user education and support, ultimately proving the feasibility of a well-being-focused dating app.