Bunkr
B2C
Mobile
Design Thinking
Transforming Creative Briefs into Actionable Plans for Design Students
BUNKR is a reimagined approach to online dating inspired by the unexpected intimacy fostered in Israeli shelters during times of conflict. By reversing the typical online dating process—focusing first on in-person encounters before online interactions—BUNKR creates opportunities for genuine, stigma-free connections that feel spontaneous and meaningful.
Duration
8 Weeks
Year
2025
Team
Bar Leiderman, Federico simeoni, Elizabeth Scheer
Client
Personal Project
Challenge
Problem
Starting a conversation with someone you’re attracted to in real life is hard, awkward, intimidating, and often avoided. Digital dating promised to make things easier, but instead brought ghosting, swiping fatigue, and low match-to-date ratios. Apps prioritize looks over personality, leaving many feeling disconnected. People miss the spontaneity of real-life encounters, but fear of rejection keeps them behind screens. The desire is there, but the barrier feels too high. So how might we help users feel ready to take that leap - out of the app and into the moment?
Goal
The challenge wasn’t finding matches - it was getting people to meet. The goal was to design a flow that empowers users to seize the moment, bridging the gap between online interest and offline connection.
User research
Dating apps can be so daunting
To understand the challenges our users are facing, I interviewed 18 participants aged 20–30 who actively use dating apps or seek connections through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
I used a "zoom out" approach for the discussion guide - to minimize biases, starting with concrete experiences as a stepping stone to deeper examination of users attitudes, habits and feelings.
Key findings
Without safety, female users won’t engage
Many women won’t consider meeting in person unless the environment feels secure and respectful. Safety must be built into the experience from the start.
Trapped in Comfort Zones
Users often avoid real-life interaction because they’re afraid of being turned down. Apps make it easy to stay passive, reinforcing this pattern.
Constant Evaluations
Swiping culture reinforces shallow judgments based on photos, eroding users' confidence and sense of self.
These insights highlighted a need for a platform that eliminates stigma, encourages real-life connections, and prioritizes depth over superficiality.
#2 Prototypes
Inspired by Israeli shelters, I tested real-life dating moments
The idea for BUNKR was inspired by Israeli bomb shelters - spaces where strangers, brought together by circumstance, often leave feeling unexpectedly connected. These shelters create both a shared space and a shared emotional experience—a moment of collective vulnerability and communal faith. I used this analogy to guide two prototypes, each testing a different aspect
Prototype 1/ Interactive Elevator Prototype
To test how shared physical space could create unplanned connections, I transformed an elevator into an interactive dating space. A tablet offered playful prompts, and QR codes linked users to an app-based follow-up.
Prototype 2/ Proximity-Based Matching App
Building on the shelter analogy, I wanted to test how a shared emotional experience could be recreated using digital triggers in real-world settings.
Using the Wizard of Oz method, I simulated a loud in-app notification when two pre-matched users were physically near each other—creating a sudden, communal moment designed to spark connection.
Prototype Insights
Safety Matters Most
Female users were cautious about receiving alerts in certain settings.
Tech Can Get in the Way
Overly visible tech distracted from the human moment.
Shared emotional experience works
A sudden, communal moment can trigger real engagement.
Design Approach
From research insights to design guidelines
Shared Space, Shared Presence
Designing with physical context in mind means creating features that encourage users to engage while occupying the same space. Subtle prompts and proximity-aware triggers help spark interaction without forcing it.
Safe by Design
The product must foster trust in both digital and physical contexts. Features, flows, and tone should create a sense of control and comfort, especially for users concerned about privacy and safety.
Emotion as a Catalyst
Design should spark emotionally charged, shared moments—like surprise or tension—that help users move past hesitation and into real connection.
Explore
Immediate, Location-Based Entry
Into Real Life
The map shifts focus from profiles to places, showing real-time activity at venues with active BUNKR users. It supports spontaneous, in-the-moment decisions based on vibe and presence. Users can search, filter, and explore. If checked in, a persistent banner keeps you anchored to your current venue and just one tap away from re-engaging.
Venue Drawer
Building Trust, Sparking Curiosity
Not everyone feels ready to walk into a place and just talk
to someone. That’s why this screen does the
heavy lifting quietly.
It opens with a safety rating, so users know the vibe has been vetted. They see how many people are there, get a glimpse of who’s checked in (without faces), and preview shared interests to spark curiosity. A floating button invites them to navigate or check in, but only once they’ve arrived.
It’s not about pushing interaction, it’s about making people feel like something real could happen, and gently nudging them to step into it.
Check-In Screen
Designed for Immediate Action and Meaningful Connection
Designed to support immediate, confident action, this screen anchors users in the real-world venue experience. Visibility controls and editable statuses offer comfort and control, addressing key safety and privacy concerns. By prioritizing mutual interests alongside photos, profiles encourage meaningful exploration beyond looks alone. The prominent "Match" button on each profile further reduces hesitation, gently nudging users toward real-life connections.
Gender-Based Visibility Controls
Balancing User Needs with Engagement Trade-Offs
Female users have an extra visibility state—allowing them to privately browse profiles, visible only to users they actively "Match" with. The matched profiles see these interactions normally, ensuring no one knows the female user initiated first, preserving privacy.
Research indicated women prioritize safety and discretion, making this essential for their comfort. However, this added privacy could reduce overall engagement if offered universally- therefore, male users retain simpler visibility settings.
Explore
Building Trust, Sparking Curiosity
Not everyone feels ready to walk into a place and just talk
to someone. That’s why this screen does the
heavy lifting quietly.
It opens with a safety rating, so users know the vibe has been vetted. They see how many people are there, get a glimpse of who’s checked in (without faces), and preview shared interests to spark curiosity. A floating button invites them to navigate or check in, but only once they’ve arrived.
It’s not about pushing interaction, it’s about making people feel like something real could happen, and gently nudging them to step into it.
Explore
Building Trust, Sparking Curiosity
Not everyone feels ready to walk into a place and just talk
to someone. That’s why this screen does the
heavy lifting quietly.
It opens with a safety rating, so users know the vibe has been vetted. They see how many people are there, get a glimpse of who’s checked in (without faces), and preview shared interests to spark curiosity. A floating button invites them to navigate or check in, but only once they’ve arrived.
It’s not about pushing interaction, it’s about making people feel like something real could happen, and gently nudging them to step into it.
Matches Screen
Encouraging Action, Not Accumulation
This screen was designed to solve a core problem in dating apps: users match but rarely follow through. By separating temporary and permanent matches, BUNKR creates structure and urgency. Temporary matches—formed through real-life encounters—include the location and a visible timer. If no message is sent within a set time, the match disappears. This reduces inactive match buildup, encourages immediate action, and lowers pressure around rejection. Once a conversation begins, the match moves to the permanent tab—ensuring only meaningful connections are kept.
Overview Tab
The Overview tab offers a clear snapshot of active tasks within the relevant context, helping users assess progress, deadlines, and alerts. By showing only the projects they’re currently working on, it reduces cognitive load and makes it easier to prioritize key actions.
Mid-fi wireframes
Solution
Problem Statement
Identifying a unique
group of users
Research identified a user group we call "conflicted conservatives." They desire genuine human connection and are interested in online dating but view apps as artificial, lacking spontaneity. They also fear stigma around being seen as desperate or promiscuous. These users long for the "old days" of meeting people in real life first.
So, how might we bring back the magic of dating, like in the good old days? We articulated a problem statement using the formula of User + need + reason.
Problem statement
Conflicted conservatives need a platform that fosters genuine interactions because they want to engage in online dating while preserving the spontaneity and authenticity of real-life connections.
What I’ve Learned
Focus on Essential Features with Scalability in Mind
This project has been a valuable learning experience. Working on a complex system taught me to think critically about how each component impacts the overall design, focusing on scalable solutions that maintain clarity as the system evolves.
I also learned the importance of balancing user needs with practical constraints. While research is vital, prioritization is key to ensuring the most impactful features are implemented.