Duration: Mar-Apr 2022
Find My House
Helping apartment finders schedule inspection easily
Project Overview
The Problem
Available websites for finding apartments are not responsive enough, provide inaccurate information atimes and do not have an inspection scheduling process.
The Product
Find-My-House is an online apartment finder that offers a quick inspection scheduling process. The typical user is between 25 - 45 year old, and most users are early career professionals and families. Find-My-House goal is to make finding and inspecting apartment as easy and safe as possible for customers.
My Role
UX designer leading the responsive website design from conception to delivery
The Goal
Design a Find-My-House website to be user friendly by providing accurate information and a simple inspection scheduling process.
Project duration
Feburary 2022 to April 2022
Responsibilities
Conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, iterating on designs, determining information architecture, and responsive design.
Understanding the user
I conducted user interviews, which I then turned into empathy maps to better understand the target user and their needs. I discovered that many target users find online apartment finding as the perfect alternative to the usual physical method, as it is very stressful for working adults to manage that. However, many apartment finding websites aren’t responsive enough and did not provide enough information, which frustrated many target users. This caused a normally enjoyable experience to become challenging for them, defeating the purpose of relaxation.
Pain Point
1. Experience
Apartment finding platforms aren't responsive enough.
2. Information
Apartment finding platforms do not provide accurate and enough information.
3. Inspection
Apartment finding platforms do not allow users to schedule inspection.
Personas and Problem statement
Asake
Asake is a busy loan collection officer who needs a responsive website which search filters and agent validation system because they want their apartment search to be stress free and safe.
Ben
Ben is a business developer who needs an easier way to search for apartments because they wish to move into a bigger apartment than the one they currently live in
User Journey Map
I created a user journey map of Asake’s experience using the site to help identify possible pain points and improvement opportunities.
Starting the design
Site Map
Poor and unresponsive website was a primary pain point for users, so I used that knowledge to create a sitemap.
My goal here was to make strategic information architecture decisions that would improve overall website navigation. The structure I chose was designed to make things simple and easy.
Paper Wireframes
Wireframes
Next, I sketched out paper wireframes for each screen in my app, keeping the user pain points about responsiveness, browsing and security in mind.
The home screen paper wireframe variations to the right focus on optimizing the browsing experience for users.
Screen size variations
Because Find-My-House users access the site on a variety of different devices, I started to work on designs for additional screen sizes to make sure the site would be fully responsive.
Digital Wireframes
Moving from paper to digital wireframes made it easy to understand how the redesign could help address user pain points and improve the user experience.
Prioritizing useful button locations and visual element placement on the home page was a key part of my strategy.
Wireframes
Screen size variations
Usability study findings
To start testing the designs, I created a low-fidelity prototype which you can view here. This prototype was used in an unmoderated usability study with 5 participants. Here are the main findings uncovered by the usability study:
1. Cancel inspection
Once at the schedule inspection screen, Users could not cancel the process.
2. Inspection switch
Users could not switch between the “physical” and “virtual” inspection type.
3. Report agent
Users wanted a “Report Agent” feature in the agent profile page
Refining the design
Mockups
Based on the insights from the usability study, I made changes to improve the site’s Inspection scheduling process. One of the changes I made was adding the “cancel” button to allow customers cancel the scheduling process. This allowed users more freedom since they do not have to complete the process before cancelling it.
Before usability studies
After usability studies
To make sure that users are in full control of the whole process, I added a “report agent” button which would help customers report issues faced with agents.
Before usability studies
After usability studies
Accessibility considerations
1. Headings
I used headings with different sized text for clear visual hierarchy
2. Imagery
I used high quality images to show allow users have detailed immersion
3. Contrast
Used good color contrast and clear Call To Action buttons for easier use under low lighting
Mockups: Original screen size
Mockups: Screen variations
I included considerations for additional screen sizes in my mockups based on my earlier wireframes. Because users will be accessing the website from a variety of devices, I felt it was important to optimize the browsing experience for a range of device sizes, such as mobile and tablet so users have the smoothest experience possible.
Desktop
Tablet
Mobile
High fidelity prototype
My hi-fi prototype followed the same user flow as the lo-fi prototype, and included the design changes made after the usability study, as well as several changes suggested by my peers.
Going forward
Takeaways
Impact
My target users shared that the design was intuitive to navigate through, more engaging with the images, and had the necessary features.
What I learned
I learnt that design tools in all their majestic value are at the end only just tools. Designing an experience that addresses users pain points is just as important as the design tool.
Next steps
1. Usability study
Conduct another round of usability studies to validate whether the pain points users experienced have been effectively addressed by the website.
2. Research
Identify any additional areas of need and ideate on new features.