Zoosk Alfred

1. Zoosk
It’s about what’s possible.
Denique Ferguson
Pui Mo
Clark Mullen

2. Predispositions
When Zooskers succeed in finding stable
relationships, they leave Zoosk. When Zooskers think
they won’t find the relationship they’re looking for,
they also leave Zoosk.
People often want to know if they’re doing the “right
thing” in the various situations that develop their
romantic relationships.
Bad experiences aren’t always bad – sometimes they
set the stage for good ones.

3. Research
Zoosk is different because it looks at what you do, not what
you say you want. We want to leverage this strength and
expand it in to other areas.
Zoosk already has suggested messages and recommends
shared topics of conversation
When you’re talking to someone, you don’t want Zoosk in
the way, you want it to facilitate.
Deactivating Zoosk account is a sign of commitment in a
new relationship.

4. Design Principles
Suggestions need to be personal and contextual
It can't be too obvious
If all the guys send the exact same messages it won't work
Its not about perfection, its about opportunities
Our design goals isn't designed so people can misrepresent themselves (with
the help of the chat assistant you sound funny and cool online, but in person you
are not) Its about presenting who you are in a way that allows opportunities to
happen.

5. Our Design
We propose a separate app, Alfred, that integrates
closely with Zoosk that relies on intelligence and
context from behavior tracking.

6. Zoosk Current Scope
find
someone
chat
online
first
date
longer term
relationship
dating

7. Expanded Scope
find
someone
chat
online
first
date
longer term
relationship
dating

8. Our Focus
Why we focused on dating?
• Quitting Zoosk is a sign of relationship commitment for many users.
We want our design to intervene at this point so users continue to
use Zoosk's new app for the first date, and as they continue dating
• To improve dating make each date better
browse chat marriage happy ending
before
date
during
date
after
date
Dating

9. Single Date Structure
Notification Center
• Remind user of the date:
time, location, et al.
• Suggest something nice to
do before the date: buy
flowers, bring umbrella
before during after
Lock Screen
• Music: Set up music she likes
• Topics: Recommend topics
• Plan B: Alternative dating
plans
• Exit strategy: "Best friend" exit
strategy
Notification Center
• Recommend gift
• Remind user to send
message

10. Positive Cycle
men learn how to treat
women better so it
leads to more
successful dates
women like being
treated well on dates
so they keep using
Zoosk and
recommend it to their
friends

11. How it Works with Zoosk
We drew inspiration from
Facebook / Messenger
The apps work great
together and link to each
other with single tap, but
each can be used
seperately
Zoosk
Alfred

12. App Notifications Today View
12:00Friday 14 November
Pick up flowers for your date.
Wingman
NotificationsToday
Wingman
Friday,
November 14
Plan B Exit Strategy Topics Music
• Quick access key
features when you
are on the date
Alfred
alternate date plans
Plan B
help smoothly exit a bad date
Exit Strategy
unlock topics during a date
Topics
play music that she likes
Music
• Set up integrations
• interact with full set
of features
• Receive notifications
before and after
dates
Wingman

13. Meet Connor
22 years old
Senior, Economics
Bloomington, Indiana
Connor doesn’t say much. He can come off as cold, but people more
often find him mysterious. Once people get to know him – he is warm
and friendly, but it doesn’t translate well when he’s on Zoosk or on first
dates.
The women he messages on Zoosk usually don't respond, and when
they do, the conversation often dead-ends. He isn't sure how to handle
first dates and isn't sure what he can do to make girls feel comfortable.
He is starting to feel like a loser, and doesn’t want to be embarrassed
when he talks with girls online and wants more opportunities for girls to
get to know him.
Scenario

14. Connor’s got a date!
He’d been experimenting with Zoosk’s new Alfred app for a
while now, hoping to improve his dismal response rate. Not only
did he get a response, but they chatted for a few days, and
tonight’s their first date.
He made reservations at Bon Humour for Friday night.

15. Conner's phone vibrates with a
notification.
"Want to pick up flowers?"
He never thought about getting
flowers for a first date. Good
idea, maybe next time.
Before the date
NotificationsToday
Wingman
Friday,
November 14
Plan B Exit Strategy Topics Music
12:00
Friday 14 November
Date with Mira in 1 hour. Want to pick up
flowers on the way?
Alfred Notification from Alfred.
He can swipe the
notification to see maps of
flower shops and tips for
selecting flowers. Or buy
flowers directly within the
app.

16. He meets Mira at the restaurant at 7 pm. He goes in to the
restaurant and finds out he booked the wrong date.
How could he have been so stupid? He finally gets a date, and
this happens.
She looks unimpressed, and takes out her phone, probably
to...wait a minute, phone!

17. Freaking out, He takes out his
phone and swipes up on the
lock screen to find other date
options.
NotificationsToday
Alfred
Friday,
November 14
Plan B Exit Strategy Topics Music
He taps Plan B, to find other
date ideas.
This launches the app from
the lock screen and shows
Plan B options.
The lock screen has quick access to
features that would be useful during
a date.
• Plan B - alternate date plans
• Exit Strategy - help smoothly exit a
date that isn't going well
• Topics - unlock topics during the
date
• Music - Play music that she likes
to set the right mood

18. He sees a highlighted map of
the surrounding area. Below the
map is list of possible date
plans, and why they were
recommended.
Plan B
1
3
2
Plan B suggestions are based on:
• her Zoosk profile (its more powerful
when she links with facebook)
• Contextual information: time,
location, weather
• Messages between them
He taps the option
'Romantic Sunset Picnic' to
see more details
Park / Sunset / Wine
1. Romantic Sunset Picnic
suggested because: she likes outdoors &
wine. Nice sunset tonight, park short walk
away and buy wine on the way
2. Movie + Popcorn
Adam Sandler / Fun
suggested because: she loves Adam
Sandler movies, his new movie is playing.
Offer to buy her popcorn.
Southern food / comfort
3. Her Favorite Food
suggested because: she loves southern
food and there is a great southern resturaunt

19. “Would you, uh, would you
think it weird if we went on a
picnic instead?” Surprised by
the suggestion, she agrees.
The date goes great and they
enjoy a nice picnic together.
After tapping on a specific
suggestion. It zooms in on
the map to show details on
how to make the plan
happen.
A
Park / Sunset / Wine
1. Romantic Sunset Picnic
A. Pick up wine
B. Get some delicious food on the way
C. Romantic Picnic Date
Plan B
B
C
<

20. later that night after they have
said their goodbyes. Alfred
notifies him to follow up the
date with a message.
NotificationsToday
Wingman
Friday,
November 14
Plan B Exit Strategy Topics Music
12:00
Friday 14 November
Send a text wishing her goodnight.
Alfred
After the date

21. Strategy
Our concept can expand the scope of Zoosk
services to:
• Before dating
• During dating
• Long term relationships

22. Strategy
Integration with other services.
By leveraging personal and
contextual information and
integrating with other services Alfred
can help couples have better dates.
• Picking the music she likes and
creating a great atmosphere
• Creating date ideas on the fly
based on her preferences and the
context
Possible Integrations
• Spotify
• OpenTable
• Online Flower/gifts
• Yelp

23. Alfred:
it’s about perfection
what’s possible.

24. Acknowledgements
Jared Crane
Tony Kennedy
Marty Siegel
Jordan Beck
HCId 2015 Cohort

25. Attributions
• Online Dating designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/brandosaurus">Brandosaur.us</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Valentine designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/Luis">Luis Prado</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Wedding designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/franciellycs">Francielly Costantin Senra</a> from the <a
href="http://www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Infinite Love designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/skyebs">Skye Selbiger</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Love Talk designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/SimpleIcons">Simple Icons</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Message designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/alexandr.cherkinsky">Alexandr Cherkinsky</a> from the <a
href="http://www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Waiter designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/iconify">Scott Lewis</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Date designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/yalanis">Yazmin Alanis</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Speech-Bubble designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/ChrisHolm">Christopher Holm-Hansen</a> from the <a
href="http://www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Exit designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/Luis">Luis Prado</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Music designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/mmpezzi">Maria Maldonado</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Sos designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/stefano.vetere">Stefano Vetere</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Tuxedo designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/mattermill">Matthew R. Miller</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>
• Question designed by <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/martindelin">Martin Delin</a> from the <a href="http://
www.thenounproject.com">Noun Project</a>