HomeBody | Alfonso

HomeBody

Project Type:

Design a project managing app

Tools:

Figma, Google Forms, Photoshop

Role:

UX Researcher, UI Designer

Duration:

1 Month

Process

Problem

Many homeowners are unfamiliar with the process of what it takes to improve their homes. Finding professionals can be intimidating, and once found, the paperwork and communication can be overwhelming to new and existing homeowners.

Solution

Create an app that focuses on 4 key ideas:

1. Trusting connections

2. Learning and understanding about your home

3. Communicating with professionals

4. Organizing documents and deadlines

Discovery

I surveyed 7 homeowners in the Bay Area

And out of those 7 homeowners, 6 were actively searching for professionals to help fix their homes. Only 3 homeowners have experience with an existing app assisting them in finding local "professionally trained" workers.

Further in my research, I noticed 3 common themes:

Trust: Hiring new professionals can sometimes lead to numerous issues regarding the home project. Having that trust between the homeowner and the professional is essential when working on the project's progress.

Learning/Understanding the Basics: Homeowners are eager to know about their homes. Creating a bridge welcoming homeowners to learn can prevent them from feeling intimidated when beginning a project.

Project Organization: With numerous documents being traded and staying on track with project deadlines/schedules, it can be overwhelming for homeowners to organize. Creating a space where homeowners can easily find documents, communicate, and view a project calendar can help create less stress.

How Might We?

By using a "how might we" question, I am highlighting the main key features that can elevate user experience when designing the app.

"How might we create a platform that bridges trusting connections between homeowners and professionals to ease field knowledge, communication, and project organization ."

Brainstorming & Ideation Sketches

Prototyping

I aimed for a simplistic interface design due to a wide range of homeowner demographics.

The color palette is not too bold and welcomes a friendly community.

With this AI tool, homeowners can ask questions and learn more about their house, easing the process of starting a project.

With video links, concise educational responses, and recommended questions to ask, this tool is designed to help homeowners feel less overwhelmed and more prepared to improve their homes.

Testing

After completing the prototype, I received feedback from two homeowners, which provided valuable insight into areas where I could improve in my final design.

First, I changed the navigation bar to a more familiar design. The initial design looked out of place compared to the rest of the app.