Roomify
​A mobile app simplifying off-campus housing and roommate matching for University of Michigan students with real-time updates and efficient search tools.
Background
A mobile app designed to simplify the housing search process for University of Michigan students by offering real-time updates on available off-campus housing and roommate matches. Roomify enhances the student experience by streamlining the search for affordable and convenient living arrangements, empowering users to make informed and efficient housing decisions.
Task
The goal was to design an app prototype that serves as a centralized hub for University of Michigan students, simplifying the search for off-campus housing and roommates into one intuitive platform.
I focused on:
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Reducing search fatigue by consolidating housing options, roommate matching, and tenant reviews into a single interface.
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Enhancing usability and accessibility to help students efficiently find affordable housing and compatible roommates based on their preferences.
Action
Research and Problem Framing
Conducted interviews with University of Michigan students to identify pain points in the current housing search process.
Synthesized insights into a clear problem statement: “As a University of Michigan student, I need a more streamlined and reliable way to find off-campus housing that fits my budget and location preferences, so I can avoid the hassle of searching across multiple platforms.”
Key Findings during Interview Research
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Successes
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Networking with friends or using roommate-matching services simplified the process for some students.
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Reliable landlord recommendations and early lease signing contributed to smoother experiences.
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Challenges
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Difficulty finding accurate and up-to-date listings online.
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Balancing affordability, proximity, and amenities was a common struggle.
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Competitive market dynamics and confusing lease processes added stress.
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Preferences
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Proximity to campus and public transport, affordability, and safety were top priorities.
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Real-time availability, detailed photos, and tenant reviews were highly desired features.
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Ideation & Feature Prioritization
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Brainstormed Features: Explored potential features such as roommate matching based on compatibility, filtered housing searches by budget and proximity, real-time listing availability, tenant reviews, and alert notifications for new listings.
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Prioritized Features: Focused on key user needs, including housing search filters, compatibility-based roommate matching, and real-time updates, while balancing feasibility and value to create a user-centered initial prototype.
Result
The Roomify prototype received positive feedback from testers, who noted that it simplifies the housing and roommate search process while alleviating the stress of navigating multiple platforms.
Key Outcomes:
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100% task success rate: All testers successfully completed tasks such as finding housing options, filtering by preferences, and using the roommate-matching feature.
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Reduced search fatigue: The centralized platform streamlined the housing search and provided easy access to reliable listings, reviews, and roommate compatibility tools.
