I. Challenge
Build an App from UX/UI designs.
A pair of aspiring founders approached us with an exciting idea: a lifestyle-oriented dating app targeting a
niche community. They had engaged a freelance UX designer and were presented with attractive mock-ups
that looked polished and promising. Based on these visuals, they believed they had a working proof of concept
and were nearly ready to move into development.
II. Introduction
What They Had: High-fidelity screen designs for onboarding, profiles, and messaging
What They Believed: “We have a proof of concept—now we just need a developer.”
Budget Reserved: Approximately AUD 25,000 for design and development.
III. Challenges
Upon review, it became clear that while the designs looked sleek, they lacked the depth required to support a secure, scalable and functional dating app.
No backend systems had been scoped.
Key architectural elements were missing and major platform considerations had not been factored into the
planning..
IV. The Solution
We advised a pause in development and proposed a structured pre-build approach:
Detailed Workflow Mapping – Outlining all backend processes and user journeys
Use Case Identification – Clarifying functionality across different user types
Low-Fidelity Wireframing (Vibe Code POC) – Validating the user experience before high-fidelity work Technical Architecture & Cost Breakdown – Establishing what’s required for launch and beyond
This would allow a realistic appraisal of total effort and investment, before development
Detailed Workflow Mapping – Outlining all backend processes and user journeys
Use Case Identification – Clarifying functionality across different user types
Low-Fidelity Wireframing (Vibe Code POC) – Validating the user experience before high-fidelity work Technical Architecture & Cost Breakdown – Establishing what’s required for launch and beyond
This would allow a realistic appraisal of total effort and investment, before development
V. Implementation Process
Decision: The founders made the wise decision to pause the project before committing to development. Savings: Prevented potentially AUD 80,000–100,000 in misdirected spend.
Feedback: They were grateful for the insight, expressing relief they hadn’t already invested heavily in incomplete or misleading deliverables.
Feedback: They were grateful for the insight, expressing relief they hadn’t already invested heavily in incomplete or misleading deliverables.
VI. Conclusion
Before investing heavily in development, validate your assumptions with a discovery session. Ensure your idea is technically viable, financially realistic and strategically aligned. Avoid falling in love with the design before understanding the build.