SEEHOME UI/UX CASE STUDY

This is a UI/UX Case Study I have done in 2021. SeeHome is a renting app provides finding roommates services and finding rental apartments services.

ALEX'S STORY

ROOMMATE FIRST FLOW

APARTMENT FIRST FLOW

However, renting is not a problem only for Alex; renting is a problem for many young people. Especially this year, renting becomes much harder. According to the expert from CNBC, the current growth in housing costs are mostly caused by the end of pandemic restriction. Firstly, landlords are eager to recover their losses during the pandemic. Secondly, more young people are moving out on their own to look for jobs as pandemic restrictions end.

Besides the growth in renting costs, another problem comes with renting is how to find a good roommate . Almost everyone has the experience of living with a roommate they do not like. Thus, I want to make an app that allows young people to find rental apartments’ and roommate’s resources at the same time by matching with them through location, financing information, and desirability.

11.4%

The national median rent has increased by 11.4% so far in 2021, compared with 3.3% in the first six month of 2019

98%

“Average rent growth this year is outpacing pre-pandemic levels in 98 of the nation’s 100 largest cities.”

30%

Millions of Americans will be “ spending more than 30% of their monthly income on rent”.

BUSINESS CANVAS

COMPETITOR ANALYSIS

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

PERSONA BOARDS

ORDINARY WIREFRAMES

USER TESTING

SYNTHESIZED LEARNING

Goal:

Flow Testing: to make sure every button/filter/feature is clear
Inspiration: be inspired by people with different backgrounds
Empathy: Understand real world users’ pain points and frustrations on renting
Feature Ranking: discover the advantages and downsides of each feature

Process:

I found 5 target users with different background and interviewed them.
I introduced them the basic information about my app, and used my persona board and storyboard to help them understand.
I showed them my Information Architecture and Wireframes, asking them to help me test the key features and overall flow.
In the end, my interviewees ranked the key features of my apps, and provided their overall impression about the app.

FEEDBACK

100%

80%

60%

20%

All users said they like the concept of the app.

Most of the users said they spend a long time on comparing the prices and features of each apartment.

Most of the users said the flow is clear, but the word choices of some filters and buttons are confusing.

Most of the users think it is helpful and exciting to have an AR Tour viewing the inside of an apartment.

Many users concerned about where to find the review about landlords, apartments, and neighborhoods.

One user among five said he loves all key features provided by the app.

KEY FEATURE RANKING

Favorite Feature:

All users ranked “love” for the Chat feature.
Comment: it is the most practical and useful function for a rental app.
Suggestion: add a live chat service in order to ensure all costumers get immediate response.

Least Favorite Feature:

Two users ranked “love”, and three users ranked “like” for the Community feature.
Comment: it is good to have this feature, but it should not be the main focus for a rental app.
Suggestion: Use it as a space to provide reviews about landlord and neighborhood, or create some spaces for users to communicate.

KEY LEARNING

Make the questionnaire an option, add a skip button.
Add a sublease feature, because young users often face changes in work and working places.
Reword some filters and buttons.
Add a live chat service.
Provide reviews and comparisons between similar products for users.

VISION STATEMENT

Become a company that makes the renting process easy and fun.

MISSION STATEMENT

To create a better channel for young renters to communicate with each other, and to find resources.

TONE OF VOICE

Simple and Direct

We have to face every doubt and question raised by our consumers. Do not confused them. Make every word straight forward.

Credible

Renting is a serious problem. Consumers must have high expectation to a real estate app. We need to make our words powerful and credible. Let users trust SeeHome

Empathy

Let consumers understand we are on their side. We understand their pain points. We are here to provide them with solutions.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Distinctive

Our identity targets young audiences. Young audiences often prefer designs that are unique, interesting, but also not overdo.

Comfortbale

To most of the people, the word of “home” has beautiful and loving meaning. In case of design, the brand also should let consumers feel comfortable. Dominated colors used by the brand should be bright but not loud.

Clean

We are not a simplistic identity, but we also should not add too many decorative elements that may confuse consumers in our design. Make every page clean; make every step direct.