Strengthening emotional connection in relationships

Problem

Building deep emotional connections can be challenging, especially for individuals in new relationships in today’s fast-paced world

Couples in new and existing relationships often struggle to communicate openly, fearing judgment or rejection, hindering the development of a strong emotional bond.

But what exactly does it mean to build an emotional connection?

FYI - Emotional connection is defined as a deep bond that goes beyond physical attraction or surface-level interactions, fostering a sense of security and intimacy on a deeper level.

Who

Couples who want to improve their existing relationship and struggle with expression.

Why

Lack of open expression can lead to misunderstandings and hinder the relationship's growth.

When

In the early stages, during challenges or conflicts, and when communication is lacking.

Solution

A mobile app fostering a better way to communicate what’s really inside with your partner

I designed Connect, a platform that seeks to bridge the gap between partners, facilitating open and honest dialogue while enhancing emotional connections in a supportive environment.

Please give it a watch and don't skip! I'm really excited about this video, and I hope you'll enjoy it too! 🙌🏽🔊

Design process & timeline

Define

Defining project goals with a focus on forming heart-to-heart connections

Given the broad scope of how relationships are defined and its complex nature, I created these goals to stay on track with my focus.

Research

The survey highlighted areas of improvement, particularly among early-stage relationships

The survey revealed that many participants were young adults (aged 18-24) in new relationships, officially dating for less than a year. A significant number expressed dissatisfaction with their current emotional connections, with miscommunication being the biggest barrier to open communication.

In simpler terms - Many young couples struggle to communicate effectively, leading to dissatisfaction in their emotional connections.

Statistics showing early stage relationships and moderate to dissatisfaction of emotional connection.

Miscommunication labelled as the biggest barrier for individuals to express their feelings openly.

Candid conversations revealed the stories and intricacies with why people struggle to communicate their feelings

I conducted 8 user interviews and spoke to individuals in early-stage relationships to uncover the complexities and emotions behind their struggles.

Analysis

Uncovering themes of validation, security, and feelings of avoidance and isolation

Synthesizing qualitative data from interviews into an affinity diagram, it became evident that, despite each relationship’s unique challenges, common underlying themes were impeding emotional connections.

These themes included a need for validation, a longing for security, and feelings of avoidance, neglect, and isolation.

Exploring untapped potential in existing market landscapes

I conducted a competitive analysis of existing platforms and tools to identify untapped opportunities in the competitive market.

Key learnings and opportunities

Positive psychology

Fostering a fun, guilt-free space where couples can freely express their authentic selves.

Monitor for accountability

Include weekly trends, reports and recommendations based on how the couple uses the app.

Self-awareness

Couples must first recognize and become aware of the various challenges they currently face to enhance their relationship.

Ideate

Consolidating key features to overcome barriers in communication

I brainstormed several ideas to overcome the challenges with communication and created a critical items diagram to stay focused on my project goals and prioritize effectively. This approach helped me narrow down the most important features needed to address the problem.

Ideate

Forming user testing with rough sketches early showed the tough love I needed

At first I tried to visualize my ideas from the critical items diagram and previous research into paper by creating rough sketches of how I envisioned my app to be.

I then drafted a user testing plan to test my concept rapidly and gauge how well my target audience understood the concept I was trying to convey while this concept was also still new and fresh in my mind.

After user testing, I realized there were many areas I needed to improve to refine my concept and ensure its clarity. It didn’t go as smoothly as planned, but it was nonetheless an excellent learning experience. Here is the feedback I received:

Design

Forming mid fidelity wireframes

Based on the feedback from user testing, I created wireframes of my app while addressing the comments to refine the product.

Prototype

Final solution

Form meaningful conversations with guided prompts

Discuss relationship topics together with guided prompts to foster a deeper understanding between you and your partner(s).

Recognize your feelings and share them with your partner

Grow in emotional awareness together by sharing your feelings with your partner, fostering a supportive and understanding connection.

Conduct weekly relationship check-ins

Regularly check in with your partner(s) to ensure you’re both on the same page and have a safe space to address concerns.