Project Intimacy
The UK’s longest-running curated WhatsApp experience.
What is Project Intimacy?
Project Intimacy is a carefully curated, 2-week-long experience hosted on WhatsApp, which pairs two like-minded strangers together anonymously.
Participants fill in a detailed pre-experience questionnaire which seeks to find out their likes/dislikes, values and beliefs, based on these answers Riptide pairs two like-minded strangers together.
You will know nothing about your partner, not even their name. We specifically mask the gender, location, race, and age of all participants so that you form a connection free of prejudice or judgement. Once paired both participants receive daily instructions, prompts and conversation starters. The content has been created using scientific evidence on how we make friends and connections.
Interactions will vary from 5-30 minutes per day.
Project Intimacy is the longest-running WhatsApp-based experience in the UK. In total, it has seen over 2000 audiences connect from across over 28 countries.
Riptide have curated a carefully structured fortnight experience which promotes empathy and encourages people to look beyond their own four walls and to find a meaningful connection with a stranger from across the world.
A note from our Artistic Director
“We have forged over 2000 new connections between strangers this year!
In a year of isolation, lockdowns and social distancing - this project has
been something which has brought people closer together.
We have connected people from as far north as Aberdeen, Scotland, and as far South as Melbourne, Australia. The project has reached 5 different continents!”
Don’t take our word for it…
“I am so glad I signed up for Project Intimacy. It was exactly what I needed, it was really nice to speak to someone new - especially at a time where we are unable to meet new people”
“I think the way Riptide produced the project was exactly right and it pushed me to the edge of my comfort zone, made me think about myself and about my Partner, made me listen and have compassion, made me make time, made me not make judgements, and made me tell her things that some of my friends don’t know!”
“A friendship was born and flourished in these weird, disconnected times. Against all odds, intimacy was not only achieved but became the foundation of a new relationship where the surface mundanity of friendship is overlooked and new depths of intimacy are explored”
“It was a very interesting experiment and I’m pleased I was part of it, and it will be remembered as a positive part of lockdown. And I’m still messaging daily with my Partner - so thank you for the great match!”
“I am so glad I signed up for Project Intimacy. It was exactly what I needed, it was really nice to speak to someone new - especially at a time where we are unable to meet new people”
“It was so good I’ve signed up for the next one! Me and my partner still talk even though it is over. ”
“Project Intimacy gave me a real sense of purpose in isolation. I would look forward to the time we would receive the evening texts”
“This experience was so interesting! I connected with someone miles away. I honestly think we are friends now!”
“Very enjoyable experience. I loved the interactions Riptide gave us. Felt really meaningful. My partner was very open and easy to talk to which made it really lovely. Thank you.”
“A lovely and interesting experience. Something about it feels very special and important, especially in the world we are living in at the moment. I have recommended this to all of my friends.”
“The highlight of my lockdown. The best thing that I have experienced in months.”
“Thanks to this I have a friend I would never have met! We talk every day now.”
“Easily the best digital art I have experienced in a long, long time. Well done Riptide! Thought-provoking, gripping and made me question how I interact with people.”
“Project Intimacy is a must for anyone who, like me, is craving those connections with strangers. The pairing was great, it was so easy to connect.”
“I’ve really enjoyed that it’s been simple, SMS based and daily. It’s made it really stand out to me amongst what feels like an immense amount of online content at the moment”
Quick FAQs
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Riptide are one text or call away from stepping in and helping with whatever your problem might be.
You will receive Riptide’s number on day one of the experience.
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We have created this experience in good faith, and we are relying on participants to self-police and buy into the shared ground rules and terms and conditions at all times.
On the very rare occasion participants want to stop the experience they will be talked through the blocking process by us.
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Yes, there is nothing stopping people from continuing their connections after the two-week period. This is the ultimate aim of the project after all and many previous participants have done this.
Please note that participants will no longer receive prompts from Riptide and will be fully responsible for their interactions. -
No, Project Intimacy is about exploring connections with others on a purely plutonic level.
