When people think about designing features for a dating app, they might picture a sleek user interface, a few lines of code, and - boom! - a brand-new tool ready to roll out. The reality, however, is a bit more like putting together a puzzle where the pieces are constantly shifting. That was exactly the case with Anti-Commitment Mode (ACM), HUD App’s latest feature, designed to help users signal their desire for something strictly casual.
So, how does a feature like ACM go from an idea to something real? Let me take you behind the scenes.
The concept for ACM came to us in early February. The goal? To create a way for HUD App users to clearly indicate that they’re not looking for anything serious - without having to spell it out in every conversation. A small badge, a toggle, and some smart messaging could go a long way in improving transparency and reducing mismatched expectations.
When I first got the brief, it was a mix of ideas from different team members, including our Founder and CEO Edward, our Marketing Director Mikayla, and our DevOps Engineer Devin. I took all of their input and started sketching out how this could fit into the HUD experience.
I can be a bit old-school in that I always start with pen and paper, scribbling wireframes to figure out where a new feature makes the most sense within HUD App’s flow. ACM felt like a natural extension of the “Looking For” section - if you’re already selecting what type of connection you’re interested in, why not have an option that solidifies your stance on commitment?
Once I had a rough idea, I jumped into Figma to refine it. The challenge was making sure ACM felt like a seamless part of the app, not some tacked-on feature. HUD has an established design language, so consistency was key. Every button, badge, and pop-up had to align with our existing patterns.
The next step was feedback. I worked closely with Mikayla and the Marketing team to fine-tune the copy so the feature’s purpose was clear and engaging. Since HUD App is all about casual, safe, and consent-based fun, we wanted ACM to reflect that without sounding too clinical or formal.
From there, I presented the designs to the Product team in our weekly meeting. This is where we poke holes in everything, asking questions like, “Will this be intuitive for users?” and “How can we make it even smoother?” Some things worked right away, while others needed tweaking.
For example, originally, ACM was just a badge, but we realized that a subtle in-app message might help reinforce what it meant. If a conversation started shifting toward something more serious, a gentle nudge - “Hey, just a reminder: This user has Anti-Commitment Mode turned on!” - could help prevent miscommunication.
Once the final design was locked in, I handed everything over to our Product Owner Anesh, who writes up user stories for our developers. This isn’t a “set it and forget it” process. I stay involved, answering questions, ensuring that the design translates correctly in development, and testing early versions in TestFlight.
One challenge? Making sure ACM looked and worked correctly on both iOS and Android. Different platforms have their quirks, and HUD is built with separate codebases for each, which sometimes means adjusting things to fit.
After testing, tweaking, and finalising, ACM was ready for rollout. But my work doesn't stop there. Post-launch, I like to dive into user data to see how people are actually interacting with the feature. Are they using it? Are they turning it on and off frequently? Does it impact match rates?
We track this through a suite of technologies/tools that help us understand exactly how our users are interacting with HUD App. If something isn’t working as expected, we can iterate and refine. A feature is never truly “done”; it evolves based on how our community engages with it.
The most rewarding part of my job? Seeing an idea turn into a real feature that improves the user experience. ACM started as a concept scribbled on paper and is now a fully integrated part of HUD App, helping users navigate casual connections with more clarity. Building a dating app isn’t just about aesthetics or functionality, it’s about designing for real people with real needs. And that’s what makes it so exciting.
So, if you ever wondered how new features come to life at HUD App, now you know: A mix of creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and, of course, a lot of Figma files.
And if you haven’t checked out HUD App yet, give it a try. Who knows? It might be exactly what you need.
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