Matches to Meetups: 🐝 A Bumble Case Study
Designing Privacy-First Geolocation Features
However, analyzing the data revealed not only that similar approaches had failed previously….
This approach posed significant privacy and security concerns - particularly problematic for an app whose core mission is empowering women, who are more vulnerable to security risks.
After analyzing the problem space, the real problem wasn't about knowing when matches were physically nearby. The problem lies in the inherently impersonal nature of digital dating. Online dating reduces people to photos and statistics, creating a disengaged user experience far removed from the organic connections people form in real life.
Introducing in-person mixer events for city users to meet organically through curated experiences. This premium-only feature balances the excitement of meeting people organically with privacy-first geolocation.
iOS
watchOS
• Curated Events targeting high user-density neighborhoods
• Privacy-First Notifications that respect location boundaries
• Premium Benefits including full attendee lists and free entry
• Strategic Previews for free users without revealing sensitive data
• Real-Time Indicators showing gender balance at events
Echoing Bumble's Core Interaction Model
The Challenge: How do users discover events without feeling overwhelmed?
My First Approach
I initially relied on Google Material Design patterns with traditional list/map toggle navigation.
While functional, this direction felt disconnected from Bumble's distinctive brand and design language.
The Challenge: How do users know who's attending without compromising privacy?
The Solution
I designed a tiered visibility system where free users see aggregate data (gender balance, attendance numbers) while premium users see individual attendees.
In the settings, users can also control their RSVP visibility.
• Value differentiation - Premium users get full attendee lists; free users get enough info to decide
• Gender balance indicators - "Hot Ticket" badges show balanced attendance, addressing safety concerns
• Privacy protection - No exact locations revealed until users RSVP
User Testing Participant
The Challenge: How can the Apple Watch add unique value beyond mobile notifications?
My First Approach
Early watch iterations simply miniaturized the mobile UI (copy/paste)—a common but ineffective approach to wearable design.
The watch became just a smaller notification screen with no unique purpose.
This insight transformed the watch from a passive notification device into an essential part of the event experience. By using geolocation to detect arrival, the watch becomes a convenient check-in tool that eliminates the need to pull out a phone—perfect for social settings where staying present matters.
• Eliminates phone friction - Quick wrist tap to check in, then back to conversation
• Watch-native design - Leverages geofencing meaningfully, not just shrinking mobile screens
• Contextually aware - The watch knows when you've arrived and surfaces the right action at the right moment
The Challenge: How can users browse mixers by location if the primary interaction is swipe-based?
The Solution
I maintained a secondary map view in the top menu based on Bumble's 2023 analytics. Despite both location features being discontinued, map integration (25.17% adoption) significantly outperformed proximity alerts (12.27%), suggesting visual exploration provides genuine value to a subset of users.
• Respects user preference - Some users think spatially and want visual exploration
• Discovery complement - Users can swipe for curation or map for manual exploration
• Data-driven decision - Adoption rates showed genuine value in map-based search despite feature discontinuation
I developed a component library that extends Bumble's existing design language while introducing Mixer-specific elements that work across iOS and watchOS.
RSVP Notification - Yellow banner showing social proof of attendance during swipes
Gender Ratio Indicator - Visual demographic breakdown of event attendees (W 63% / M 27%)
Map Toggle - switching between primary swipe interface and secondary map interface
Mixer Hero Card - Featured event card with image, date badge, and distance indicator. Prioritized visual hierarchy through hero images with gradient overlays
Attendee Preview Card - Social proof through participant avatars with "+55" counter
Interactive Map View - Live venue location with surrounding context
In answering "How might we use location tracking to enhance online dating?", I explored multiple directions before landing on the Mixers feature.
User testing with CMU graduates confirmed in-person mixers as the optimal solution that cultivates organic connections.
4
Graduate Interviews
Dating apps face declining engagement, with users fatigued by superficial interactions. This is especially pronounced among Gen Z users, who are increasingly seeking real-world connections in “third places” — social spaces that fall between home and work.
The rise of run clubs is a clear example, offering a way to get outdoors, build community, and meet people authentically. Many are choosing these real-world experiences over swiping on dating apps — and that shift is worth paying attention to.
Bumble Buzz Mixers bridges this gap by connecting digital matching with physical meetups in a way that's:
• Privacy-first - Event-based location, not continuous tracking
• Premium-worthy - Creates exclusive experiences users will pay for
• Scalable - Works across Bumble's platforms (Dating, BFF, Bizz)
By analyzing Bumble's previous geolocation data, I designed a solution that retains what users valued—location-based discovery—while avoiding invasive tracking.
With 50 million active users and 2.8 million premium subscribers, this hybrid digital-physical approach creates both meaningful connections and new revenue opportunities.
Next Steps: Closing the Loop
The current design gets users to mixers—but doesn't track what happens after. With more time, I'd design post-mixer interactions with the following questions:
• How do users signal they've met someone IRL at a mixer?
• How can Bumble stay relevant when conversations move off-platform (Instagram, phone numbers)?
• How might post-mixer feedback improve future event matching?
This would help Bumble measure the true ROI of mixers—not just attendance, but meaningful connections formed.