Overview
About the Project
This redesign was created for KPCB’s 2022 Design Fellow application. The challenge was to redesign a feature of a Kleiner Perkins company’s product. I chose to focus on Zumper, a home-searching platform, with the goal of improving communication and collaboration among roommates during the home-search process.
ROLE
UX Designer
TIMELINE
December 7-14, 2022
TOOLS
Figma
TEAM
Myself
The Challenge
Integrate a communication and comparison feature that encourages interaction among users who are looking to find a place with roommates. Existing features in Zumper were not optimized for group collaboration, leading to inefficiencies in sharing and comparing listings.
The Solution
A customizable home-searching app with specialized features for individuals living with roommates, including shared boards for saving listings, group messaging, and tools for collective decision-making.
Understanding the User
I conducted semi-structured interviews with six students and working professionals to uncover their pain points, needs, and requirements when searching for housing with roommates. Participants described using multiple tools like group chats, Google Sheets, and external websites, which resulted in disorganized communication and inefficient decision-making.
Key Insights
- 45% of Zumper users live with roommates, with 62% of them are 20-29 years old.
- Users often share potential listings through external group chats and spreadsheets, which are inefficient for collaboration.
- Many users struggled with the lack of a centralized tool to communicate and compare properties with roommates.
These insights shaped the direction of the redesign, with a focus on creating shared collaboration tools and enhancing user interaction within the app.
Ideation
With these insights in mind, I brainstormed and developed key features to improve the group home-searching experience. My main objectives were to:
- Create a Favorites Board for users to save and categorize listings based on their group’s preferences.
- Develop a Decision-Making Tool that helps users finalize choices through voting and shared analysis of listings.
- Integrate Group Messaging to allow roommates to discuss properties directly within the app.
I also created user personas to ensure the redesign addressed various user needs:
- John, 21, a college student searching for budget-friendly housing with roommates.
- Tammy, 28, a busy professional looking for a quick and efficient way to communicate with her fiancé about housing options.
These personas helped guide the design process and prioritize key features for the target audience.
Wireframing
With the core features outlined, I began wireframing to visualize the layout and navigation of the redesigned platform. The goal was to create an intuitive user interface that enhanced collaboration and decision-making.
Low-fidelity Wireframes
Early wireframes focused on the overall structure and layout of the platform, including the placement of key elements such as the Favorites Board, messaging, and decision-making tools.
Mid-fidelity Wireframes
After testing initial ideas, I refined the wireframes by adding more detail and improving the layout:
- Introduced filters to the Favorites Board, allowing users to categorize properties by criteria such as budget or amenities.
- Refined the group messaging interface to make conversations about listings easier to track.
- Improved the decision-making tool by adding voting functionality and shared analysis for groups.
High-fidelity Design
Once the wireframes were validated, I moved to high-fidelity design, focusing on creating a visually cohesive, polished interface.
- Favorites Board: An organized, easy-to-navigate board where users can save, categorize, and share listings with roommates.
- Decision-Making Tool: An interactive tool for voting on listings and tracking group preferences.
- Group Messaging: A streamlined messaging interface that simplifies communication among users and with property managers.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge 1: Time Constraints
With a tight deadline for the Zumper case study, I had to focus on delivering a complete and functional redesign. I prioritized key features, including group messaging and the Favorites Board, which I believed would have the greatest impact on improving collaboration and communication among roommates.
Challenge 2: Managing Complexity
As the features evolved, it became challenging to maintain a balance between adding functionality and keeping the platform user-friendly. I ensured that new features like the Decision-Making Tool and shared boards didn’t overwhelm users, maintaining a streamlined and intuitive experience.
Results
The redesigned Zumper platform enhanced the home-searching experience for users living with roommates by streamlining communication, collaboration, and decision-making. Users reported that the new features saved time and reduced the need for external tools, resulting in a more efficient process.
Key Takeaways
- User Research Drives Success: Conducting interviews with real users helped align the redesign with actual needs, leading to a more effective final product.
- Iterative Design is Key: Testing wireframes at different stages allowed for continuous improvement and refinement.
- Feature Prioritization Matters: Focusing on core features such as communication and decision-making tools improved usability without overwhelming the user.
Conclusion
The Zumper redesign provided a comprehensive solution to the challenges faced by users searching for housing with roommates. By introducing collaboration tools like the Favorites Board and Group Messaging, I was able to simplify the process and create a more seamless user experience. The project highlighted the importance of user-centered design and iterative development in creating a functional, user-friendly product.