The product started as Dahlia, a dating app with a twist: match online, but meet offline at a curated venue. We curated venues, booked tables, and got two people to meet IRL.

But the business model struggled. After six months, we pivoted entirely - from exclusive 1:1 dates to open community experiences where strangers could connect through shared events.

We tested before pivoting. Ran community events such as Cubbon Park picnics, 'Start as Strangers' meetups, board game nights.

This was not just a rebrand but a strategy pivot from a dating focused app to hyperlocal community events. We needed a new app icon, a new name, and of course - a new UI.

Early explorations for community features and search. We tested ways to surface local events, filter by interest, and help users find "their people" without overwhelming them with options. Not all of these shipped, but they informed the final discovery experience.

Be Offline reimagined how people discover and join events. Features like category filters (IRL, Intimate, Learn), time-based browsing, and group invites were all informed by what we learned hosting real events during the Dahlia era.

The company shut down in late 2025 after failing to secure funding. The product resonated with early users, but without marketing or distribution, we couldn't reach scale. Without scale, we couldn't test, learn, or iterate fast enough to find product-market fit.

As the sole designer, I owned the full design scope: app UI, brand identity, pitch decks, event posters, social content, and physical signage at events.

Product-market fit isn't binary. The product worked for early adopters but not for mass market.

Without scale, the best research is just trying the thing and watching what happens.

Design can't fix a distribution problem. We proved the concept but couldn't scale it.