The Problem
In Dallas’ melting pot community of both locals and transplants, how might we connect folks to housing and co-working opportunities that correspond with broader work arrangements and lifestyles?
Project Details
Summary
HomeQuest is a housing platform that fulfills the needs of young remote workers who are in search of housing and connection. Designed for new graduates and young professionals.
This project is a part of the UX apprenticeship program from
Dialexa Edu.
Software
Figma
Timeline
8 weeks (4 sprints)
Role
I was a UX/UI Designer in a team of 7 other designers and 1 marketing student. My main tasks were user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and branding. I was the lead designer for branding and wireframing.
Scope and Constraints
1
I had to learn to manage my tasks efficiently with school, work, and extracurriculars. Also had to consider how to collaborate with a team of varying schedules.
2
I was still learning the mechanics of Figma, and thus had to go through a learning curve within the last stage of this sprint. Went to multiple design workshops to learn more about prototyping.
3
I had to learn how to prioritize certain features due to our time limit.
Secondary Research
I visualized the obstacles our users may face as young adults trying to move to a new city. I interviewed two real-life personas: Eric and Helen, who are both young adults who have various backgrounds in their home-searching process.
Before the interviews, I created an Empathy Map to better understand our users:
1. Users may feel overwhelmed by housing options, concerned about community safety, and need to find convenient transportation so they can maintain relationships and find work.
2. Dallas is a prospective location to
User Interview Results
Eric focused on:
Emphasized safety
Wants a unique apartment
Local amenities
Helen focused on:
Real estate information
Find ways to form new social connections
Explore more
I discovered that Eric and Helen had their unique struggles however they had a single purpose: Form connections once they moved to a new location.
Market Analysis
Cross-referencing real-estate, community building, and co-working businesses.
By conducting a market overview and competitive analysis, I discovered that:
Zillow:
Largest competitor, most market share
Neutral renting/buying platform
Trulia:
Family-oriented real estate platform with lots of local information
Realtor.com:
Uses actual realtors to give a more professional experience
Key Takeaways
The main features should be Map Search, Compare Spaces, and Visual Data Filter
Set ourselves apart with Architecture Search, Cultural Info, and Social Profiles
Focus on the human - be fun!
Ideation
Deliverables: "How Might We", Crazy 8s, Feature Prioritization, Main User Flow (MVP), Wireframes
Top features the team voted on:
Anonymous Review System
Architectural Filter
Safety Gauge
Social Profiles
To-Do List
Feature Prioritization
MVP Features
Local Explorer - Discover the safety, sociability, transit of a property. Combines the safety gauge, safety map, and rating system features.
Safety Comparison
Architectural Filter
Foundation First
Prioritize and execute MVP features that help someone like Eric find his unique, safe, and perfect home
Creating a strong foundation for Helen to find a good investment for the future and beyond
Branding
Typography and Color Scheme
Primary Color
Electric Violet represents...
Power
Wisdom
Creativity
Calmness
Secondary Color
Secondary Color
Dusty Peach represents...
Enthusiasm
Energy
Vitality
Inviting
Logo Ideation
As the main designer for the brand, I implemented a compass in the "O" in "Home Quest" to visualize the house-search experience.
My final logo design was much more simplified and excluded the "city landscape" so that it is more readable on the final website.
Key Features
Don't just find your home. Know you're home.
Landing Page
1. Instantly filter homes in your area that are for sale or rent in your area.
2. Zip code populates the newest homes in your area so user can narrow down their search.
Advanced Filter Search
1. Input desired information to narrow down your search such as price range, bedrooms, bathrooms, amenities, and more.
2. Filter homes to view by newest to oldest categories.
Home Comparison
"Save" your homes then select 1-4 properties to compare prices, amenities, and more.
Commute - Safety - Community Ratings
The highlight of the user's home search.
For those who want to connect with others and stay safe in their community, this page allows users to filter through three types of data: Commute, Safety, and Community.
Future Scope
User Testing
Target Audience
Young remote workers living in urban areas. Recruited participants who fit into this demographic.
Key Takeaways
Easy and simple user flow on an initial first pass.
Local Explorer feature is a unique highlight.
More details on housing (days a property was on market or year built) or ratings (how are we quantifying them?).
“Risk Factors” seemed unnecessary.
Platform’s design was clean and minimalist
Next Steps
Real Estate Guide: Prioritize the development of the real estate guide.
Dream Home Generator: Users will have the option to type into a text box 300 characters describing the house they wish to find, and listings will be generated based on their response.
To-Do list: Feature that prepares users with moving resources before their big move.
Reflection
Working as a team across varying schedules.
Prioritizing minimal MVP features for greater results.
Distinguishing the voice of HomeQuest.