roomies
Type
Tools
Role
UX/UI Design UX Research
Product Designer UX Researcher
Figma
Duration / Year
4 weeks, 2023
Roomies is a personal project I created with the aim of improving the experience of living with roommates.
It was inspired by personal challenges I faced while living with a roommate, as well as insights gathered from interviews with others who shared similar experiences.
The Problem
Living with roommates can be challenging as it involves sharing space and responsibilities with others.
Roommates need an easy way to distribute tasks and stay organized so they can reduce conflicts and make living together more enjoyable.
Goals
How can we simplify communication and task management among roommates, reducing conflicts and improving their living experience?
The Process
User Interviews
I conducted 10-15 minute user interviews (10 participants) with people who had lived or are living with roommates to learn more about their challenges and experiences.
It revealed 4 main themes of negative experiences they had with roommates.
Responsibilities
Privacy
Communication
Expenses
I learned that 9 out of 10 participants interviewed were unsatisfied with their roommate situation.
Example Interview Questions
“Can you share your experiences of living with roommates? What stands out to you when you think about sharing space and responsibilities with others?”
“Reflecting on your past living situations, how satisfied were you with your overall experience of living with others?”
Key Insights
Empathy Mapping
Based on the interviews, I focused on identifying common sentiments that were repeatedly expressed to understand the underlying issues. This helped me gain a deeper understanding of the target audience and get closer to designing an app that meets their needs.
User Personas
Then I created 2 personas after reviewing the interview data. This allowed me to better understand the needs of potential users and define my ideas.
Lucy represents the challenges faced by college students with demanding schedules. Juggling a heavy class load, Lucy is close with her three roommates but struggles with conflicts in shared living spaces. Her primary goals include establishing an organized chore schedule, gaining the freedom to invite friends over without constant permissions, and finding a more efficient way to split group expenses.
Johnny, as someone dealing with the challenges of short-term living arrangements, represents a category of users navigating through language barriers with temporary roommates. Not very fluent in English, Johnny's primary goals include understanding his roommate's needs without engaging in direct conversations, minimizing unnecessary arguments, and optimizing communication efficiency.
UX Requirement
To address the problem of miscommunication and challenges roommates experience, target activities that my solution needs were:
Wireframing
Mid-Fidelity
Feedback received in this process:
Add more feedback factors to notify users that the action has been taken
Develop onboarding screens to introduce users to the app
Follow typography guidelines where the minimum font size is 16pt
Based on the feedback, several improvements were made to the app's user experience.
-> To provide users with clearer feedback that their actions have been successfully taken, pop-up notifications were added. The onboarding process was also improved with additional screens to introduce users to the app and help them understand the setup process. In addition, typography guidelines were followed to ensure that all font sizes are at least 16pt, improving the app's accessibility for all users.
High-Fidelity
The Final Prototype
1
Introduction
To register, the user opens the app and invites the roommates to use the app together
Users without a roommate can skip this step and use the app as a personal planner
2
Managing Tasks
On the main page, the user can update the status of each task which will send a notification to other users
The user can also add a new task by adding a description, due date, and priority, notifying the relevant members. This will be updated to the shared schedule page.
3
Requests
The user can approve/decline other users’ requests regarding inviting someone over or any events that would require permission. The user can also add new requests to get permission from other users.
Approved events will be updated to the shared schedule
4
Bill Splitter & Shared Shopping List
The user can split group expenses by adding a request with the total bill and notifying the users. Users can update the status of the request by checking it as sent.
Users have a shared shopping list where they can add grocery items and edit the list accordingly using checkboxes
5
Shared Schedule
Users can check each other’s personal schedules and the dates of approved requests. They can also edit the shared calendar to add new events.
The Reflection
User Testing
I received user feedback by doing a virtual Design Expo, where other students tested out the prototype.
Overall, feedback on the app was positive, with praise for the consistency of the UI and the practicality of the features. They appreciated its ability to resolve common issues faced by roommates.
Some users experienced difficulty with navigating certain frames and suggested being mindful of prototyping interactions. I went back to my designs and checked the prototyping interactions again to make sure users can access all the features.
Lessons ☁️
This project taught me the essential steps of developing an app idea independently, providing valuable insights into the complexities of UX design. I was able to learn how to navigate challenges and also manage time effectively to complete a heavy project within the set deadline.
Challenges ⛈️
I think crafting a comprehensive user experience proved challenging as I worked to integrate various features catering to different roommate needs. Ensuring that the design was visually appealing while maintaining a focus on practicality demanded thoughtful consideration and creative
problem-solving.
Improvements ☀️
I plan to continue iterating on my design, implementing additional features such as a chat feature where roommates can communicate. I also hope to test the app with a wider range of users to receive additional feedback and ensure that it is accessible to everyone. Overall, I'm excited to continue developing my skills in UX design and creating solutions to real-world problems through technology.