rentr
renting made easy
Fall 2022, Remote
Streamlining the apartment application process from start to finish.
INTRODUCTION
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INTRODUCTION ・
My Roles
UX Researcher
UX + UI Designer
Product Tester
Timeline
Research — 3 weeks
Design — 10 weeks
Testing — 4 weeks
Tools
Figma
FaceTime
Maze
Prototype
Project Summary
This is a mobile-first responsive website geared toward helping both new and experienced renters navigate the complex process of searching for apartments. It is a mock project for Designlab’s UX Academy.
Problem
With the increased number of individuals moving apartments since the pandemic, the overall process should be streamlined to help users feel more at ease while searching and applying for apartments.
Business Goals
Increase number of users
Increase number of apartment listings
Increase brand awareness
Increase brand loyalty
Increase revenue
Success Metrics
Number of user profiles
Number of active listings
Number of site visits
Number of repeat visitors
Number of active applications
Impact
User Impact
Creating a more streamlined apartment searching platform that will make the process less stressful for the everyday user.
Business Impact
Creating a platform where landlords can list their properties at a fee and allow users to freely use the platform to search for apartments.
Solution
I’ve created a mobile-first website that aims to streamline all aspects of the apartment searching process as well as help users find transparency into each apartment application.
INITIAL RESEARCH
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INITIAL RESEARCH ・
Research Goal
I wanted to know what features users find most crucial and important on moving platforms in order to create a platform that will help streamline the apartment searching process from beginning to end.
Methodologies
I conducted a competitive analysis to learn more about what other companies were doing in this space as well as user interviews in order to gain insight into users’ pain points throughout the apartment searching process.
Competitive Analysis
For my competitive analysis, I looked into four companies who offered products that served to help users successfully search for and find a new apartment. The four companies are:
Through this competitive analysis, I was able to get a better understanding of each company’s strengths and weaknesses, target markets, available features, etc.
After reviewing my competitive analyses, I noticed that each of these platforms are entirely free to use, they each offer a wide array of search filters, and the design of each platform is very visual. Since a lot of the companies I analyzed had similar features, I began thinking of different features that might not be as universal such as an application tracker, an in-platform scheduling feature for apartment tours, etc.
User Interviews
During my initial research, I conducted interviews with five individuals between the ages of 22 and 24 who have successfully undergone the apartment searching process. Each interview was conducted remotely via FaceTime due to time and geographical constraints.
Some of the questions each interviewee was asked are:
What has been your experience with searching for apartments?
What has been your experience with apartment searching platforms?
What are some of your reasons for searching for an apartment?
What constraints do you have in place, if any, for your apartment search?
Upon the completion of my final user interview, I was left with a few key takeaways:
The interviewees each moved for a variety of reasons whether it be for school, work, or just to be closer to their loved ones
The interviewees have searched for apartments in a variety of ways such as apartment searching platforms, word-of-mouth, and Facebook groups
Safety is a big concern for each of the interviewees
Having access to some form of public transportation is necessary
There is certain level of skepticism when apartment searching as each listing isn’t always entirely accurate
These key findings helped me to gain a deeper understanding into the users pain points during the apartment searching process as well as learn more about what their main priorities are when looking for an apartment. I kept these findings in mind when I began to synthesize my research as well as creating my design solutions.
RESEARCH SYNTHESIS
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RESEARCH SYNTHESIS ・
With my competitive analysis and user interviews complete, it was time to synthesize my research into more concrete themes that I can refer back to as I begin designing my solution.
Affinity Mapping
In order to synthesize my findings and get a deeper understanding of the key themes that were present, I utilized a process known as affinity mapping.
From my affinity map, I pinpointed several key themes including:
The interviewees all had a similar understanding of the apartment searching process
There seems to be a general distrust with apartment listings as they aren’t always accurate or transparent
Safety is a huge priority when looking for apartments
The apartment searching process can be fun, but stress is a common feeling when undergoing the process
Location and proximity to work or school plays a big factor
All interviewees expressed a need to be near some form of public transportation
User Personas
With my findings synthesized, I crafted two user personas to help me visualize the target audience for my product.
POV Statements
Based on these user personas, I then created a list of POV statements to help guide me along the rest of my design process:
I’d like to explore ways to help individuals who are nearing the end of the apartment searching process to feel less overwhelmed as the closing process can be very stressful.
I’d like to explore ways to help individuals who are moving somewhere far from their current residence to find alternatives to touring apartments because they might not be able to travel for every showing.
I’d like to explore ways to help both new and experienced renters to have more transparency in the apartment searching process because there are a lot of apartment listings that do not offer enough details about the listed property.
I’d like to explore ways to help individuals whose leases are ending to efficiently search for apartments because each renter might have a different set of needs/conditions for their unique search.
HMW Questions
I then took the previous POV statements and shifted them into HMW questions to help me focus on possible solutions to the problems I’ve identified:
How might we make the process of closing on apartments less stressful?
How might we provide users with enough information so that they can make an informed decision regarding a specific apartment listing?
How might we increase transparency into the apartment searching process as a whole?
How might we allow each user to successfully find an apartment that matches their own unique needs?
How might we create a transparent and streamlined design to minimize user confusion?
DESIGN
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DESIGN ・
User Flows
With the key problems identified and possible solutions ideated, it was time to develop some initial user flows.
Key
User Flow #1 — Searching for an apartment
User Flow #2 — Scheduling a tour
User Flow #3 — Adding tour to your calendar
User Flow #4 — Applying for an apartment
Task Flows
While keeping these user flows in mind, I then honed them down to more specific task flows in order to create a more direct, or happy, path.
Wireframes
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Based on the previous task flows, I then developed some low-fidelity wireframes to help visualize each design solution at a very basic level.
Search for an Apartment
Schedule a Tour
Apply to a Listing
UI Component Library
Once I had a general idea of how my design solutions would look, I began working on a style tile that I would later use to build out my high-fidelity wireframes and final prototype.
High-Fidelity Wireframes
After making some iterations to my low-fidelity wireframes based on feedback from my mentor and peers, I then incorporated the UI elements to create my high-fidelity wireframes.
Search for an Apartment
Schedule a Tour
Apply to a Listing
Once I settled on my high-fidelity wireframes, it was time to begin building out my prototype that I would eventually send out for usability testing.
USABILITY TESTING
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USABILITY TESTING ・
User Testing
I conducted a usability test with five individuals between the ages of 22 and 24. These tests were all conducted virtually via Maze.
The Test
The test comprised of three different missions that each participant was asked to complete:
Searching for an apartment and saving it for later reference
Scheduling an apartment tour
Applying to an apartment listing
In addition to the three missions, I also included a few questions for the participant to answer:
Rank how you feel about each mission on a scale of 1 to 5.
How did you feel about the overall design of the product?
What, if anything, was blocking you from completing the previous missions?
On a scale of 1 to 5, how likely are you to recommend this product to a friend?
Do you have any final thoughts on the product?
Key Findings
The usability test provided me with great insight into the way each participant interacted with my design. While all of the participants noted that the design was simple and straightforward, they had some issues with the interactivity of the design. In some instances they were unable to return to previous screens to resolve an error and on other screens some elements were not very clickable. With that being said, the participants did enjoy some of the features I included in my design solution such as the “Save a Listing” feature.
NEXT STEPS
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NEXT STEPS ・
Based on the feedback I’ve received during the usability tests, I’ve determined a few next steps that I will take with this project:
I am planning on making all necessary changes and retesting my product in the future to see if its usability increases
Ensuring all elements are clickable
Ensuring there are ways for users to correct any mistakes
I would like to revisit some features that I didn’t add into my product due to time constraints
The Future of the Product
Reflection
Upon completing my first comprehensive UX design project, I can honestly say I’ve learned so much. I really appreciated how each module and lesson walked me through each step of the design process as it helped me to fully immerse myself in each topic. Looking back, I definitely would’ve tweaked my workflow slightly and managed my time better, but this was an excellent learning experience and has definitely prepared me for the second phase of UX Academy.