Designers
Freya Michl, Nicole Krein
Year
2025
Category
New Talent
Country
Germany
School
HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd
Teacher
Hans Krämer, Jens Döring
»Matcha tackles the psychological challenges of modern dating, addressing loneliness and negative experiences among younger generations. It stands out for its thoughtful design, human-centered approach, and focus on psychological safety. The app's clean UI and brand identity are noteworthy, and innovative features like anti-ghosting and privacy protection offer a fresh perspective. However, the user effort required and the app's claim to enable "deeper" conversations need further investigation.«
UX Design Awards Jury 2025 Spring
Three questions to the project team
What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The main UX challenge was designing a platform that balanced meaningful engagement with simplicity. We had to reduce user overwhelm while encouraging thoughtful connections, which required rethinking traditional app interactions. Features like delayed photo visibility and anti-ghosting feedback needed to feel natural yet innovative, ensuring the user journey was intuitive while promoting emotional depth.
What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
A highlight was testing the “Deep Talk Challenge” and seeing users genuinely connect. The aha! moment came when delayed photo visibility shifted the focus from appearance to personality during user tests. A low point was integrating multiple features without complicating the UX—simplifying without losing depth was tough.
Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
Matcha was a study project that allowed us to explore innovative design approaches and address real user needs. While the app itself may not continue, its principles could inspire future projects or solutions. In five years, we see ourselves thriving in creative agencies, experimenting with bold ideas and carving our paths in the design industry, driven by user-centric and impactful design.
