Designing Live-Streaming Dating Gifts: From Emotional Metrics to 3D Animation

About the Local Version Dating Live Stream

58’s first live‑stream dating product for the down‑market targets the massive domestic single population, offering video matchmaking through a three‑party live video (male, female, matchmaker) that guides conversation, breaks the ice, and ensures direction.

Role of Gifts in Live Streams

Live gifts enhance interaction among matchmakers, participants, and viewers, improving experience and generating significant revenue—gift purchases account for over 75% of total income for the local dating live stream.

Emotional Metrics for Dating Gifts

Based on research from Delft University’s Positive Emotion Lab, 25 positive and 36 negative emotions were identified; five positive metrics—pride, entertainment, satisfaction, admiration, and desire—were selected for the dating scenario to guide gift definition.

Design Process of Live Gifts

We defined three design elements: form (appearance), style (decorations, colors, texture), and emotional metric. By controlling variables, we created gifts that match user aesthetics, using warm colors and familiar objects.

From sketch to final artwork, we ensure the gift reflects the chosen emotion, plan animation storyboard, and develop motion effects.

Animation follows a “appear‑action‑disappear” narrative, varying by gift value and emotional intent.

Example: the “Qingqing Wo Wo” gift expresses “desire” with a romantic scene—kissed couple, heart balloons, pink clouds, and a full‑screen animation due to its high price.

Gift Icon Design

Icons must remain recognizable in the limited gift bar space; we simplify complex 2D gifts while preserving key visual cues, ensuring consistency across different gifts.

Conclusion

Current 2D gifts limit animation possibilities; we are advancing toward 3D gifts to enrich visual effects and meet evolving user aesthetics in the down‑market segment.