How might we redesign the housing process in Waterloo to create a supportive, safe and transparent experience for student renters?
Timeline
3 months for research
1 month for design
Role
Product designer
Team
Leo Jenkins
Brendan Stevens
Blake Taylor
The problem
A student housing crisis
Waterloo is home to 3 campuses (University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier University, Conestoga College). Between these 3 campuses, students battle a difficult rental market: multiple platforms, inconsistent listing quality, and unresponsive landlords, all while balancing demanding academic and co-op schedules. Furthermore, most schools don't guarantee on-campus housing for upper-year students, leaving them to find off-campus housing on their own.
The user
The new renter
A first-year student, overwhelmed by the new reality of living away from their parents for the first time. They're constantly struggling to balance schoolwork, chores, and a social life and on top of it all, they now have to figure out housing. They've never searched for a place to live before and have no idea where to start.
Competitive analysis
So they try:
[endless googling]
[in person touring]
[reddit reviews]
[calling]
But they find it...
Overwhelming
Seemingly so many options but only a few are a good fit. Individually looking through everything is not feasible.
Time consuming
Comparing, touring, contacting across multiple platforms all while balancing school and coop.
A gamble
Incomplete information, scattered reviews and time pressure force students to sign a lease and cross their fingers.
Key insights across 12 user interviews...
Students complain that:
Critical information is hard to find or non existent
Students lack guidance in the process
Fractured communication with property management
Solution
Introducing... Rentify
Goal 1: Unite & sort
centralized search and listings
comprehensive filters & categories
recommendation engine to predict preferences
Goal 2: Inform
create review ecosystem
encourage accountability
sync with roommates to be on the same page
built in AI chatbot
Goal 3: Guide
step by step timelines
learning guides for beginner renters
easily access more information
Decision points
01 How do we encourage accountability with landlords and property management?
extensive review system, including rating the landlord/property managers
prompting users to leave a review in onboarding
02 How do we make the process as efficient as possible?
optimize for mobile view
intuitive swiping and carousels
scrolling through information
Reflections
My first product design project!
I’ve learnt so much from bringing a project from research → design. I’ve gotten a newfound appreciation for problem solution fit, tailoring a product to a specific user and what it takes to make a product a user will need.
see our paths converging?