ROMANTIC DININGS

[Problem.]

The dating app industry is saturated, and users are burning out. While apps like Tinder and Bumble have optimized the swipe, they leave users stranded after the match, right when the real relationship building should begin. As a result, singles are overwhelmed by decision fatigue and planning anxiety, while couples fall into repetitive routines and lose the excitement of going on a dinner date night together.

We uncovered a deeply emotional and consistently unmet need: people want intentional, well-planned dates that feel meaningful, memorable, and low-stress. Yet no platform today is designed to help users plan how to date once a match is made. This "post-match gap" is a critical blind spot in the dating ecosystem.

[Solution.]

Romantic Dinings is an AI-powered date planning app that helps users discover romantic restaurants by vibe, generate personalized itineraries, and send shareable love-letter-style invites.

We help users:

• Discover romantic restaurants and bars based on vibes, aesthetic, and occasion
• Generate thoughtful, personalized date itineraries with smart transitions between spots
• Send invites through a charming, shareable love-letter-style link
• A photo booth section where you can keep a date history log to revisit memories and keep relationships fresh

[Why this matters.]

Studies show that couples who plan dates more easily report higher relationship satisfaction and longevity. Romantic Dinings taps into this insight, offering not just convenience, but emotional value.

Couples who regularly have date nights are 14% more likely to see divorce as unlikely, with 83-84% reporting high relationship happiness, compared to 69% among those who rarely spend intentional time together.

[Launch Party.]

Making it real through an experiential prototype

I produced a live brand experience to test emotional resonance—on a $250 budget. Interactive food, physical props, and a curated ambience turned a classroom into a memorable date-night setting.

[How I Made It Happen.]

Every decision was made through the lens of the user experience, balancing brand identity with a shoestring budget.

1. Securing Buy-In & Resources: I pitched the concept of an experiential launch to the Carnegie Mellon Human-Computer Interaction department. With the trust and support of Professor Laura Vinchesi, I secured $250 in funding. This required a clear budget proposal and articulation of the event's strategic value.
2. Setting the Mood: I created a visual language on Pinterest, then used candles and flowers to turn an academic space into something magical. The challenge was not just to decorate a room, but to fundamentally alter its perceived function and feeling.
3. Interactive, On-Brand Catering: A standard catering service was too expensive and impersonal. The food needed to be an experience in itself.
   • Concept: I designed an all-pink, sweet, and interactive menu. This included a "Self-Hwachae Bar" (a Korean fruit punch) where guests could create their own desserts, and hand-dipped chocolate strawberries.
   • User Engagement: This approach turned food service into a shared, fun activity, fostering the exact kind of lighthearted connection the app promotes. It was more memorable and on-brand than a passive catering line.
4. Bridging Digital & Physical: I built a giant love letter prop and ran a restaurant discovery raffle, making app features tangible and fun.
5. Strategic Outreach: I executed a multi-channel outreach campaign targeting key communities within Carnegie Mellon (HCI, Entrepreneurship, AI Ventures) and the broader Pittsburgh tech scene. I sent personalized invitations to founders, VCs, and professors.
6. Crafting a Compelling Presentation: I designed presentation slides and prepared script that not only showcased Romantic Dinings, but also clearly communicated its purpose and impact to the audience.

[What I Learned.]

The launch party was a resounding success, exceeding all my initial goals.