Refining LESGO: A UX Journey to Revitalize Queer Connections

Teaming up with an innovative app to enhance aesthetics and usability in queer dating

Brief

Decorative cover image for LESGO case study

tools

  • Figma
  • Figjam
  • Adobe Creative Suite

methods

  • User interviews
  • Competitor Analysis
  • Wireframing

primary target

  • Men
  • Late 20s - Early 30s
  • London, UK

the client

LESGO is an Australian LGBTQIA+ dating app that lets you switch easily between friendship, dating, or casual swiping. With plans to break into the UK market, the app needed a design boost to attract a new audience while keeping its fun, inclusive spirit intact.

the challenge

Even though LESGO was built with heart, it hadn’t had the luxury of a true UX makeover. With the design managed by tight-budget teams and multitasking stakeholders, it ended up with a mismatched look, clunky navigation, and some accessibility oversights. In short, it was crying out for a “facelift.” I knew it was time to simplify interactions, tidy up the visuals, and make the whole experience feel as welcoming as the community it serves.

our approach

I dove in with a user-first mindset, determined to blend innovation with a nod to the app’s playful origins. The aim was clear: modernise the look and feel while smoothing out usability bumps—all without compromising its uniquely queer vibe.

Comparison screenshot of the LESGO app interface before and after the redesign. The 'before' side displays early versions of sign-in, user profiles, content discovery, and inbox screens, while the 'after' side showcases a modernized, streamlined design that enhances usability while preserving the app’s playful queer vibe.

visual identity overhaul

first impressions

The initial design felt a bit disjointed—clashing colours, inconsistent icon choices, and random corner curves that didn’t add up.

colour pop

I kept LESGO’s signature blue but refreshed the palette with bolder off-white and off-black tones, using subtle gradients to ease eye strain and keep things modern.

Final color palette for the LESGO app redesign: showcasing the refined and cohesive color scheme that features the app’s signature blue alongside bold off-white and off-black tones, enhanced with subtle gradients to create a modern, accessible aesthetic.

shape matters

I ditched the random rounded corners in favor of a deliberate system: a neat 4px radius for most elements, a comfortable 16px for swipe cards, and full roundness where it felt right.

Comparison image showing the evolution of border radiuses in the LESGO app redesign. The 'before' view features inconsistent, random corner curves, while the 'after' view showcases a systematic approach with a 4px radius on most elements, a 16px rounding on swipe cards, and fully rounded corners on selective elements for emphasis.

typography & icons

Instead of a mix-and-match approach (hello, emoji overload!), I standardised the type and icons. Strong, clear titles paired with intuitive icons now quickly communicate each function.

Grid of redesigned app icons featuring a cohesive modern aesthetic.

navigation refresh

The original design tried to be minimalist, but that meant users were left guessing which button did what. To solve this, I introduced a straightforward navigation bar with four clear sections: Home, Messages, Explore, and Profile/Settings. This change not only cleared up confusion but also set the stage for future features.

Side-by-side comparison of navigation designs. Left shows an ambiguous minimalist format; right displays a clearly labelled navigation bar with Home, Messages, Explore, and Profile/Settings

user testing & iteration

Real users should always guide the process, so we put this into practice and tested our changes, focusing on particulars that we had doubts on:

Tested features

swiping clarity

They found the newly labeled swiping modes instantly understandable

finding your way

The updated navigation meant settings and features were now accessible in a snap.

icon wins

For the Explore section, testing showed that a magazine icon hit the mark, aligning perfectly with what users expected.

what's next

Feedback was overwhelming—in a good way. The “facelift” transformed LESGO into an app that’s not only visually fresh but also a breeze to use. And the journey doesn’t end here. New ideas are already on the horizon, like:

future features

safety beacon

A quick-tap feature to share your real-time location with a loved one when you need peace of mind.

Three-part wireframe for the Safety Beacon feature. The first screen shows the activation interface, where the user initiates a safety alert that will send their location to a trusted contact unless deactivated. The second screen presents an interface for setting a timer for the beacon. The third screen displays the triggered state of the beacon, indicating that the safety alert is active.

events calendar

A one-stop hub for all LGBTQIA+ friendly events

Two-part screenshot of an events calendar interface. The first screenshot displays the full monthly calendar view with dates marked for upcoming events. The second screenshot zooms in on a specific party event, showing key details.

+1 feature

For those nights when you want company for a film, a show, or a night out.

Three-screen wireframe of the +1 feature. The first screen shows the selection screen, where user swipe cards just like they swipe to find a match. The second screen shows the details of the event. The third screen shows a group chat.

lessons learned

Working on LESGO reminded me why I love the process of design. I almost jumped straight into prototyping, but taking the time to really talk to users and sketch out ideas made all the difference. Every conversation and little insight enriched the final product and taught me to trust—and enjoy—the journey every step of the way.