HOMEASE
.jpg)
PROBLEM
Roommates often encounter disorganization, misunderstandings, and conflicts when managing shared living spaces and responsibilities. Coordinating tasks, tracking bills, and maintaining a harmonious household can be challenging.
PROJECT SCOPE
An all-in-one roommate management and communication platform that offers a holistic approach to address the challenges faced by roommates. It aims to enhance roommate relationships, reduce conflicts, and create a more organized and enjoyable communal living experience.
DESIGN PROCESS
DISCOVER
PARTICIPANTS
Any individual living in shared spaces is a potential user of the application. Participants for the contextual inquiry were 8 University students living in Rochester, NY. Through casual conversations among peers, we recruited 3 types of participants.
- Extremely unhappy roommates, to directly understand pain points
- Moderately unhappy roommates, to draw a comparison with the first type
- Happy roommates, to see what's working and draw inspiration from it
INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE
- Can you share your initial impressions or expectations when you first started living with your roommate(s)
- What are some positive aspects of your relationship with your roommate(s)?
- Have there been any challenges or conflicts in your relationship, and if so, how have you managed or resolved them?
- Do you feel these conflicts could have been avoided? If yes, how?
- How much do you typically communicate with your roommate(s)? Through what means? (e.g., in-person, text, notes)
- Are there specific communication strategies or ground rules you've established in your living space?
- What activities or experiences do you typically share with your roommate(s)?
- Have there been any instances where privacy or boundaries became an issue? How was it handled?
- Are there any cultural or lifestyle differences between you and your roommate(s) that have influenced your relationship?
DEFINE
AFFINITY MAP
My team and I conducted a total of 8 interviews (2 each) and transcribed them. Some of the important quotes and data collected from the interviews were:
"I compromised because confronting was awkward"
"They changed the house lights without asking me!"
"She doesn't wash her dishes regularly, I don't like an untidy house."
"He hosted a house party and I had an exam the next day."
Responses like these served as the basis for our areas of concern, namely, Personality and mood differences, Combined decisions, Rules and duties, and Time management and schedules.
USER PERSONAS I WAS DESIGNING FOR
Key Takeaway From Atharva
He's frustrated with his roommates not fulfilling their duties.
Key Takeaways From Divya
Does not feel included in common decisions, wants better communication.
IDEATE
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Data from interviews was used to translate into potential features and solutions. The information architecture diagram below is a result of multiple group brainstorming sessions.
SKETCHES & BRAINSTORMING
WIREFRAMES & VISUALS
LOGO
The HomEase logo symbolizes the feeling of comfort and love inside a home.
COLOR PALETTE
Using bright pastel shades with a contrast of black for playfulness and uniqueness.
TYPOGRAPHY
Tropical flora and fauna that merges with the brand logo and style.
DESIGN
HI-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
ONBOARDING
Introduce users to the app and its primary features. Allowing them to sign up using their Email address/Mobile number, Gmail, Facebook, or Apple ID.
.gif)
HOMEPAGE
Let the roommates know the user's mood for the day and view their moods. A feature derived from the data collected during the interviews. "I was unwell and my roommate was not aware, she hosted a party at home that I was not comfortable with it"
GROCERIES
A CTA on the Homepage directs the user to the grocery section. Data collected shows groceries as one of the shared activities performed by the roommates. There were also instances where users mentioned having personal groceries, or those split with just one more roommate and not all. This feature is a fun way to manage lists and know who updated it and when.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
This feature was designed for Divya, who wants to be better informed.
It is one of the most data-driven design decisions made in this project. Being the most highlighted CTA in the nav bar, this feature allows roommates to nudge and confront others to ask, inform, or raise a concern about something. They would be notified about it, and the user can view read recipients.
.svg)
