Problem

Immigrants in diaspora often find it challenging to connect with others who share their cultural backgrounds and experiences. Current social media platforms do not have dedicated features or communities that cater to the specific needs of this demographic, making it difficult for them to find a sense of community and support. This can lead to feelings of isolation and cultural disconnection, which can have negative impacts on mental health and well-being. There is a need for a dedicated platform that provides a user-friendly and engaging experience for immigrants in diaspora to connect, share their stories and find a sense of belonging in their new home.

According to the World Atlas, “The United States has an African Diaspora population of over 46.4 million people, about 13.6% of the entire country's population.” This includes people born in Africa as well as those of African descent born in the United States

"It is estimated that the 2017 population of African immigrants to the United States was about 2.1 million. In 2022, they doubled to 4.6million, The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the total foreign-born Black population will more than double by 2060, to over 9.5 million people"

You might wonder what stops them from using similar dating apps and its likes. This is solely focused on diasporans (Both Africans and Non - Africans). Using regular dating apps, it's difficult to filter between blacks and whites, Immigrants/diaspora, country of birth, etc and you'd have to search repeatedly to make a meaningful connection.

The Goal

To design a mobile app that provides a platform for diasporans of African descent to connect, build relationships, and establish a sense of community.

The app aims to provide a unique and engaging user experience by incorporating interactive features beyond the traditional swiping function to increase user engagement and connection.

The Process

My client already already conducted research and had a list of features they were looking to build into the mobile solution and how they wanted it to work.

But to gain more insight into the dating app market, I analysed the strengths and weaknesses of leading dating apps like Hinge, tinder, bumble etc

Target Audience:

Individuals of African descent / immigrants in diaspora who are experiencing feelings of isolation and loneliness and are looking to connect with others who share their cultural background and experiences.

Research and Analysis:

To develop a deep understanding of the target audience's needs, we conducted the following research and analysis:

1. User Interviews: We interviewed individuals of African descent / immigrants in diaspora to gain insights into their experiences, challenges, and aspirations.
2. Competitive Analysis: We conducted a competitive analysis of existing social networking apps to identify the gaps and opportunities in the market.

Proposed solution/Outcome

With data from research, we narrowed down our features.

The solution takes into account a list of features such as:

1. Matching algorithm: The app should have a powerful matching algorithm that takes into account multiple factors, such as age, interests, and location, to help users find compatible partners.
2. User Profiles: Users can create a profile that includes their personal information, interests, and cultural background.
3. Search and Connect: Users can search for and connect with other users based on their location, interests, and cultural background (such as religion , ethnicity, language, etc) to help them find partners who share similar backgrounds.
4. Chat and Messaging: Users can communicate with each other through in-app messaging and chat features to allow users connect with potential partners in real-time
5. Subscription options: The app offers different subscription options, as a monetization model in place to generate revenue to sustain the development and maintenance costs.
6. Events and Activities: Users can create and join events and activities that are relevant to their cultural background and interests.
7. ‍Customizable profile settings: The app should allow users to customize their profile settings, such as privacy settings, to control who can see their profile and who can contact them.‍
8. Block/report feature: The app should have a feature that allows users to block or report other users who engage in inappropriate or offensive behavior.‍
9. Verification process: The app includes a phone number and ID verification, to ensure that profiles are authentic and reduce the risk of catfishing or fraudulent activity.‍
10. Push notifications: The app should push notifications to alert users to new messages or potential matches, to help them stay engaged with the app.
11. ‍Stories: Allows users to upload images and videos to their profiles to make them more engaging and help potential partners get a better sense of who they are.
12. ‍Compatibility quiz: The app includes a compatibility quiz or survey that users can take to help them find partners with similar values and interests.‍
13. AI-based matchmaking: The app should use AI-based algorithms to make more accurate matches, taking into account factors such as personality traits and communication style.‍
14. Privacy and security: The app should have robust security measures in place to protect users' personal information and ensure that only appropriate individuals have access to it.