Nook - Consolidated Apartment Info
OVERVIEW
In Spring 2023, I collaborated with the Texas Product Engineering Org to launch a website developing a unified website showcasing apartment details for UT Austin. As the sole designer, I led branding and completed the executed a comprehensive design in 10 weeks.
Timeline
January - March 2023
Team
Developers:
Zhuoli Xie, Nayeon Kim
PM: Jessica Yang
Tools
Figma, Illustrator
My Role
Research, Interviews, Interaction Design, Prototyping, Branding
HIGHLIGHTS
The cornerstone of student home search — a dynamic platform built for clarity, comparison, and convenience.
Clicking Through Main Pages on Dashboard
Home Page and Different Filters
INTRODUCTION
Current process to find housing is confusing.
Finding appropriate and affordable housing near campus is a significant source of anxiety for college students. Recent data underscores this, revealing that over 60% struggle to identify satisfactory off-campus accommodations, amplifying their stress and financial pressures
PROBLEM
Finding the right housing shouldn't be a stressor in a student's journey. How might we simplify the housing search process for college students to reduce stress and financial strain?
RESEARCH SUMMARY
Understanding the Current Process & Holes
What is the current finding housing process?
Through 12 user interviews and 30 surveys with undergraduate and graduate students, I delved into understanding their housing search process to pinpoint the core issues.
The Main Housing Hurdles
Scarcity of shared affordable options. Students have to dig to find affordable housing options.
Lack of pricing transparency due to hidden premiums and additional invoices.
Budget constraints and specific needs pull students into exhaustive manual searches.
Unreliable and biased mixed reviews. Reviews online are often biased and polarized, making it difficult to know who to trust.
Notable Absence of a Centralized Website
UT Austin Subreddit: Instant peer advice, yet reflects biased opinions.
Facebook: Lists subleases, but the information is extremely limited.
Housing Marketplace: Provides centralized information, but is outdated since 2016.
UT Housing Scout: Connects students with agents but doesn't alleviate challenges.
Building Blocks to a Better Housing Hunt
Transparent and Trustworthy
Provide clear, unbiased information to build trust and aid decision-making.
Comprehensive and Current
Offer a full, up-to-date listing of housing options, with real-time data and reviews
Informative and glanceable
Make data easier to understand and surface insights to users while minimizing interaction.
IDEATION
Behind the Interface: Conversations and Iterations
Dashboard iterations
While designing, the recurring design challenges centered on the toolbar design. The two main iterations came down to the balance of user convenience and interface functionality.
The second one shown below fit better with user needs.
Instant refinement. Adjust search without navigating away from page.
Cluttered interface. Options in the top toolbar can overwhelm users
Reduced visibility. Filtering options may get forgotten when finding.
Streamlined toolbar. Less clutter makes for a cleaner user experience.
Dedicated search space. Users have a clear, focused area for initial searches.
Limited on-the-fly adjustments. Return to homepage to change filters.
Feasibility Discussions with Engineering
Given the project's ambitious goals and tight timeline, I had lots of conversation with the engineering team to align our design vision with technical feasibility. We explored elements, ensuring that the proposed designs were not only innovative but also realistically implementable within the allotted time frame.
FINAL DESIGNS
Unlocking Doors: Cementing the Final Design
Spatial Search & Filter
The home page features a dynamic filter that caters to specific needs and a split view that simultaneously presents a map and apartment listings, offers users a holistic and efficient way to find their ideal home.
Browsing Housing Process
Apartment Insights
Clicking into an apartment's details, users access floor plans, pricing premiums, amenities, and reviews. This all-encompassing view empowers informed decisions, painting a vivid picture of potential homes with no room for suprises.
Information on Each Apartment
Review Page
The reviews page, organized into distinct categories, encourages thoughtful consideration of each aspect, minimizing bias. This structured feedback offers prospective renters a balanced, detailed view of properties.
A Look at Reviews
Favorites Faceoff: Compare & Contrast
The bookmarked page, with a comparison feature, enables users to contrast chosen properties directly. This tool simplifies decision-making through comprehensive comparisons.
Saved Collection & Comparing Bookmarked Apartments
Curated Choices
The Collections page highlights popular and strategically located apartments, simplifying the search. This helps users identify and explore properties that are more catered to them.
Collection Page
REFLECTION
Dear Diary,
Key Takeaways
Voicing your Opinion
I was fortunate to have an open team environment where I gained the confidence to stand up for the right design decisions to aid the user.
Engineering Symbiosis
Working with engineers, I adapted my design style for greater efficiency and clarity, learning the art of detailed annotation. This collaboration not only enhanced the precision of my designs but also fostered a mutual understanding, streamlining our collective workflow.
