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
10 Weeks
Year
2022
Team
Bar Leiderman, Federico simeoni, Elizabeth Scheer
Client
H.I.T. Semesterial Course
Challenge
Problem
Online dating users often struggle with the limitations of these platforms. The focus on photos fosters superficial judgments, while the associated social stigma leaves many feeling labeled as "desperate" or "promiscuous." This, combined with the repetitive nature of swiping and chatting, diminishes the joy of organic connection, leaving users disheartened and disconnected from meaningful experiences.
Goal
Create a platform that fosters meaningful connections by moving beyond superficial judgments and endless swiping. Reintroduce the excitement of spontaneous, authentic interactions in the online dating experience.
User research
Dating apps can be so daunting
To understand the challenges our users are facing, we interviewed 18 participants aged 20–30 who actively use dating apps or seek connections through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
We used a "zoom out" approach to our questions to minimize biases, starting with concrete experiences as a stepping stone to deeper examination of our users attitudes, habits and feelings.
Key findings
Social Stigma
Users avoid acknowledging their app use publicly, fearing judgment for seeking romantic connections online.
Trapped in Comfort Zones
Apps require minimal effort and reduce the fear of rejection, making users reliant on them while avoiding real-life interactions.
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.
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.
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.
Design Approach
Reimagining Dating Through a Shelter Analogy
To kick off our ideation session, we asked:
How might we encourage users to step out of their comfort zones and take a chance?
How might we recreate the serendipity and spontaneity of real-world dating?
We drew inspiration using an analogy to Israeli bomb shelters, where shared vulnerability often sparks unexpected connections and authentic interactions.
Prototype #1
Interactive dating elevator
Interactive Elevator Prototype
To explore how shared physical spaces could foster spontaneous connections, we drew inspiration from our shelter analogy and tested the concept in an everyday setting: an elevator. This setting mirrored the idea of close proximity fostering vulnerability and connection, making it an ideal environment for prototyping our vision.
We equipped the elevator with a tablet featuring interactive tasks and added QR codes to guide users to an app for follow-up interactions.
What We Learned:
The elevator succeeded in creating spontaneous moments, aligning with our goal of rekindling serendipity in dating.
However, users felt the digital elements distracted from the interpersonal aspect, prompting us to simplify the interaction in future iterations.
Prototype #2
Lavereging the digital to enhance real life interactions
Dynamic Proximity Matching App
Building on the insights from our elevator prototype, we explored a new approach to facilitate real-life interactions. Our concept introduced proximity-based triggers, where matches—pre-identified through the app—would generate an alert when users were physically near each other. Importantly, proximity alone would not create a match, ensuring that users only received triggers for connections already established through the app.
We validated this idea using the "Wizard of Oz" method, simulating interactions to refine the experience.
What We Learned:
The proximity-based matching approach excited users, as it introduced serendipitous moments into their daily lives and offered a refreshing way to engage with online dating.
However, some female users raised concerns about receiving matches in certain contexts, such as professional settings or situations where they were alone, highlighting the need to prioritize safety features in future iterations.
Low-fi wireframes
Gaining broader perspective looking at "extreme users"
Wireframing sparked ideation and discussions focused on users' needs and revealed a paradox: all conflicted conservatives would always feel uneasy with a dating platform. However, their perspectives revealed broader needs shared by most users, which might have gone unnoticed without them. So we decided to identify this group as "extreme users" and to leverage these insights to shape the design.
Before / no validation mechanism
After / 3rd column is added to the layout containing the brief. Clikcing on the marker icon highlights data pulled from the brief
App flow
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.