Case Study: Designing a platform to connect remote workers and travelers with coliving spaces around the world.
Case Study: Designing a platform to connect remote workers and travelers with coliving spaces around the world.
Coliving is a modern housing concept that has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by soaring housing costs and the rise of remote work. However, despite its increasing popularity, finding and researching coliving spaces remains a challenge.
Coliving is a modern housing concept that has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by soaring housing costs and the rise of remote work. However, despite its increasing popularity, finding and researching coliving spaces remains a challenge.
Therefore, I designed a platform to help remote workers and travelers find coliving spaces that fit their unique needs and preferences while also helping property owners improve their visibility and find tenants.
Therefore, I designed a platform to help remote workers and travelers find coliving spaces that fit their unique needs and preferences while also helping property owners improve their visibility and find tenants.
Summary
Summary
Skills:
Skills:
Competitive analysis, user interviews, wireframing, usability testing, prototyping
Competitive analysis, user interviews, wireframing, usability testing, prototyping
Tools Used:
Tools Used:
Figma
Figma
My Role:
My Role:
UX Designer
UX Designer
Project Duration:
Project Duration:
4 weeks
4 weeks
project background
Coliving is a modern housing concept that's seen rapid growth in demand due to soaring housing costs and the rise of remote work.
Coliving is a modern housing concept that's seen rapid growth in demand due to soaring housing costs and the rise of remote work.
Soaring housing costs, especially in urban areas, have driven demand for more affordable living options. At the same time, the rise of remote work has granted many people more freedom in their living and working environment.
Soaring housing costs, especially in urban areas, have driven demand for more affordable living options. At the same time, the rise of remote work has granted many people more freedom in their living and working environment.
Coliving has provided one solution for both of these growing trends, offering remote workers and travelers an affordable, flexible, and community-oriented living arrangement.
Coliving has provided one solution for both of these growing trends, offering remote workers and travelers an affordable, flexible, and community-oriented living arrangement.
With remote work trends and rising housing costs expected to continue, the demand for coliving spaces is likely to remain strong.
With remote work trends and rising housing costs expected to continue, the demand for coliving spaces is likely to remain strong.
Coliving: A modern living arrangement where someone rents a room or an apartment within a communal property, benefiting from shared amenities and activities designed to foster a sense of community and belonging.
Coliving: A modern living arrangement where someone rents a room or an apartment within a communal property, benefiting from shared amenities and activities designed to foster a sense of community and belonging.
Source: Coliving.com
Source: Coliving.com
Discovering and researching coliving spaces can be challenging due to limited and unreliable information.
Discovering and researching coliving spaces can be challenging due to limited and unreliable information.
Google searching can help find some coliving options, but discovering locations and finding detailed and accurate property information is usually a challenge.
Google searching can help find some coliving options, but discovering locations and finding detailed and accurate property information is usually a challenge.
Uncertainty about whether a property aligns with your needs and preferences makes the booking process stressful, especially when traveling to a new country.
Uncertainty about whether a property aligns with your needs and preferences makes the booking process stressful, especially when traveling to a new country.
My goal: design a platform that helps users discover and research coliving spaces and connects property owners with tenants.
My goal: design a platform that helps users discover and research coliving spaces and connects property owners with tenants.
This website will help remote workers and travelers find coliving spaces that align with their unique needs and preferences and provide peace of mind by ensuring their accommodation and work environment are ready upon arrival.
This website will help remote workers and travelers find coliving spaces that align with their unique needs and preferences and provide peace of mind by ensuring their accommodation and work environment are ready upon arrival.
This platform will also serve as a valuable tool for property owners, helping them broaden their reach and showcase their properties to a global audience.
This platform will also serve as a valuable tool for property owners, helping them broaden their reach and showcase their properties to a global audience.
Primary Goals of Coliving Platform
Primary Goals of Coliving Platform
Help users discover colivings worldwide. Whether searching for a room in bustling New York City or a cottage in rural France, this platform will help users find properties that fit their specific needs and lifestyle.
Help users discover colivings worldwide. Whether searching for a room in bustling New York City or a cottage in rural France, this platform will help users find properties that fit their specific needs and lifestyle.
Provide reliable property information to help users make informed booking decisions (e.g., verified photos, reviews, Wi-Fi quality, bathroom arrangements, and amenities).
Provide reliable property information to help users make informed booking decisions (e.g., verified photos, reviews, Wi-Fi quality, bathroom arrangements, and amenities).
Support property owners, especially small-scale operators who may lack the expertise or resources to effectively market their coliving spaces and connect with tenants.
Support property owners, especially small-scale operators who may lack the expertise or resources to effectively market their coliving spaces and connect with tenants.
research
I analyzed existing platforms for discovering and researching colivings to better understand the current landscape and features.
I analyzed existing platforms for discovering and researching colivings to better understand the current landscape and features.
While booking a coliving can often be done by communicating with a location directly, there are several platforms that connect users with coliving spaces like Coliving.com.
While booking a coliving can often be done by communicating with a location directly, there are several platforms that connect users with coliving spaces like Coliving.com.
Although targeted more towards backpackers, I also researched HostelWorld to learn more about features provided by a community-focused accommodation platform.
Although targeted more towards backpackers, I also researched HostelWorld to learn more about features provided by a community-focused accommodation platform.
A few of the coliving platforms I researched were:
A few of the coliving platforms I researched were:
Beyond standard features like search functionality, property descriptions, reviews, and photos, community-focused accommodation platforms also highlighted these features:
Beyond standard features like search functionality, property descriptions, reviews, and photos, community-focused accommodation platforms also highlighted these features:
Connection to a local host or guide, sometimes located onsite, to help organize events and manage property needs, such as maintenance or resident concerns.
Connection to a local host or guide, sometimes located onsite, to help organize events and manage property needs, such as maintenance or resident concerns.
Mobile app or messaging platform. Many coliving booking platforms, as well as individual properties, used a messaging platform to keep residents connected, share updates, and foster a sense of community.
Mobile app or messaging platform. Many coliving booking platforms, as well as individual properties, used a messaging platform to keep residents connected, share updates, and foster a sense of community.
Member discounts and long-stay incentives. Offering discounts to paid members and long-term residents helped ensure consistent revenue while also encouraging stronger community at properties.
Member discounts and long-stay incentives. Offering discounts to paid members and long-term residents helped ensure consistent revenue while also encouraging stronger community at properties.
Interviewing frequent users of colivings helped me learn about their motivations and experiences staying at these properties.
Interviewing frequent users of colivings helped me learn about their motivations and experiences staying at these properties.
Conversations with coliving users highlighted several benefits of coliving, including affordable and flexible booking options, access to coworking spaces with reliable Wi-Fi, and opportunities for unique cultural experiences.
Conversations with coliving users highlighted several benefits of coliving, including affordable and flexible booking options, access to coworking spaces with reliable Wi-Fi, and opportunities for unique cultural experiences.
Most users also valued the built-in community, which helped combat the social isolation often associated with remote work.
Most users also valued the built-in community, which helped combat the social isolation often associated with remote work.
However, users also expressed frustrations with discovering, researching, and staying at coliving residences.
However, users also expressed frustrations with discovering, researching, and staying at coliving residences.
Frustrations with the Coliving Experience
Frustrations with the Coliving Experience
Coliving spaces can be difficult to search for and research, particularly for off-the-beaten-path locations. Many users rely on social media to discover and book colivings.
Coliving spaces can be difficult to search for and research, particularly for off-the-beaten-path locations. Many users rely on social media to discover and book colivings.
Properties often fail to include important details, such as the need for a rental car to explore the area or that the location is on a steep hill and difficult to access.
Properties often fail to include important details, such as the need for a rental car to explore the area or that the location is on a steep hill and difficult to access.
Coliving spaces are not always as advertised. Users shared that rooms often vary in quality, are not accurately depicted in photos, or fail to deliver on promises such as reliable Wi-Fi.
Coliving spaces are not always as advertised. Users shared that rooms often vary in quality, are not accurately depicted in photos, or fail to deliver on promises such as reliable Wi-Fi.
Some coliving spaces lack a strong social environment or sense of community, defeating the purpose for many remote workers and travelers who choose coliving.
Some coliving spaces lack a strong social environment or sense of community, defeating the purpose for many remote workers and travelers who choose coliving.
Condensing my research findings into a single, guiding question to anchor my designs and kickstart brainstorming.
Condensing my research findings into a single, guiding question to anchor my designs and kickstart brainstorming.
“How might we design a platform that connects coliving spaces with remote workers and travelers, enabling users to seamlessly discover, research, and book accommodations that align with their needs, preferences, and lifestyle?”
“How might we design a platform that connects coliving spaces with remote workers and travelers, enabling users to seamlessly discover, research, and book accommodations that align with their needs, preferences, and lifestyle?”
I created two personas, one for a remote worker and one for a solo traveler, to ensure users’ goals and needs remained at the forefront of future design solutions.
I created two personas, one for a remote worker and one for a solo traveler, to ensure users’ goals and needs remained at the forefront of future design solutions.
Persona 1 : Remote worker
Persona 2 : Solo traveler
design
I first mapped out the site structure for a new coliving booking platform, informed by insights gathered from user interviews.
I first mapped out the site structure for a new coliving booking platform, informed by insights gathered from user interviews.
Site map
I outlined 3 task flows to visualize the user journey and identify the key screens to design.
I outlined 3 task flows to visualize the user journey and identify the key screens to design.
Task flows
Below are a few sample screens showcasing features that help users discover and research colivings.
Below are a few sample screens showcasing features that help users discover and research colivings.
I conducted testing with 5 users to identify potential issues early in the design process, starting with the navigation structure.
I conducted testing with 5 users to identify potential issues early in the design process, starting with the navigation structure.
Initial designs featured two primary pages: "Colivings’ and "Member’s Area". Participants shared that this design felt restrictive and suggested adding dropdown menus to offer more flexibility.
Initial designs featured two primary pages: "Colivings’ and "Member’s Area". Participants shared that this design felt restrictive and suggested adding dropdown menus to offer more flexibility.
Therefore, I added dropdown menus and updated the page names to better highlight the community aspect, clarify the purpose of each menu item, and improve overall page navigation.
I added dropdown menus and updated the page names to better highlight the community aspect, clarify the purpose of each menu item, and improve overall page navigation.
I asked users to complete each of the 3 task flows and share what worked and what didn't.
I asked users to complete each of the 3 task flows and share what worked and what didn't.
All five participants successfully completed the process of creating an account, booking a stay at a coliving, and viewing the location guide for a property.
All five participants successfully completed the process of creating an account, booking a stay at a coliving, and viewing the location guide for a property.
After completing all tasks, I asked participants to browse the home page and listing page and share any additional information that could enhance the website.
After completing all tasks, I asked participants to browse the home page and listing page and share any additional information that could enhance the website.
Below are the primary user suggestions and corresponding updates:
Below are the primary user suggestions and corresponding updates:
Add additional search options to the home page. Users suggested adding more search options, as many are unsure of their destination but want a property that aligns with their interests and lifestyle.
Add additional search options to the home page. Users suggested adding more search options, as many are unsure of their destination but want a property that aligns with their interests and lifestyle.
New section: allow users to search by property type
New section: allow users to search by property type
Add additional destination details to the listing page. Users suggested adding important location information to help users be more informed before booking.
Add additional destination details to the listing page. Users suggested adding important location information to help users be more informed before booking.
New section: helpful information about the destination
New section: helpful information about the destination
New information: list of popular nearby attractions
New information: list of popular nearby attractions
Add ability to see who else will overlap with your stay at the coliving to promote community and encourage social interactions.
Add ability to see who else will overlap with your stay at the coliving to promote community and encourage social interactions.
New section: profiles of other people staying at the coliving
New section: profiles of other people staying at the coliving
I incorporated user feedback, enhanced the visual design, and added imagery to finalize the high-fidelity prototype.
I incorporated user feedback, enhanced the visual design, and added imagery to finalize the high-fidelity prototype.
Designs were optimized for both desktop and mobile.
Designs were optimized for both desktop and mobile.
final thoughts
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Despite its growing popularity, finding and researching coliving spaces remains a challenge, as many are owned by small, independent operators and located in less mainstream areas.
Despite its growing popularity, finding and researching coliving spaces remains a challenge, as many are owned by small, independent operators and located in less mainstream areas.
This platform aims to bridge that gap by helping remote workers and travelers discover coliving spaces that meet their unique needs and lifestyles.
This platform aims to bridge that gap by helping remote workers and travelers discover coliving spaces that meet their unique needs and lifestyles.
At the same time, this platform provides property owners with a powerful tool to expand their reach and showcase their spaces to a global audience.
At the same time, this platform provides property owners with a powerful tool to expand their reach and showcase their spaces to a global audience.
Due to project time constraints, I prioritized developing the core features for the MVP. Below are a couple of features I set aside for future iterations.
Due to project time constraints, I prioritized developing the core features for the MVP. Below are a couple of features I set aside for future iterations.
Member’s only platform. To foster deeper connections and encourage more account sign ups, a member-exclusive platform will later be added to the website. This platform will include access to travel guides, perks and discounts, a community forum, and a member directory for connecting with other guests.
Member’s only platform. To foster deeper connections and encourage more account sign ups, a member-exclusive platform will later be added to the website. This platform will include access to travel guides, perks and discounts, a community forum, and a member directory for connecting with other guests.
Messaging platform. This feature will promote community engagement and enable users to share travel tips and coliving recommendations.
Messaging platform. This feature will promote community engagement and enable users to share travel tips and coliving recommendations.
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