VendorHub
A location-based web platform that allows users to discover local vendors or events.
HomeScope, a housing app for international students
UI/UX Design, Prototype
Overview
As a team of 3 designers, our goal was to create an app that helps international students in British Columbia navigate the housing market and find a reasonable and affordable place to live, while integrating a mockup of an AI model to recommend housing based on their preferences.
Problem
Finding a place to live in an unfamiliar environment can be challenging
International students moving to a new place often lack local knowledge of the rental market and neighbourhoods, leaving them vulnerable to housing scams and unsure whether a neighbourhood is right for them, turning the housing search into one of the most stressful parts of settling into a new country.
Solution
An AI-powered house search tool providing tailored recommendations
Profile & preference setup
Set up an account and choose personal housing preferences before getting AI-generated recommendations.
AI-generated recommendations
Personalized listings generated from the user's profile preferences.
Explore beyond AI-Generated Results
A warning message reminds users that the search results may not meet their criteria, without stopping them from exploring other options.
Listing details
Tap into a listing to get more neighbourhood insights and BC support resources before committing to view the property.
Why it matters
Not only a house listing app, but a housing support platform
Most current house search platforms in BC only let users view, filter and compare properties and most of them do not provide the detailed neighbourhood insights that international students care about.
Our team wanted to make house searching in BC more intuitive for international students by easing their anxiety through transparent data and resources that actually matter to them, prioritizing and organizing the information they need to know before signing any contract.
Design decisions
Identified the best design for the user
With the goal of making the house search process as intuitive as possible, we iterated on multiple design solutions to map out the layout and the system.
Final design insight 1
User-focused and empathetic design
The profile setup and preference input capture the details that matter to international students. With these inputs the AI can generate the most suitable housing recommendation for each user. This ensures all the results align with the users' needs and preferences.
Final design insight 2
Priority recommendation
Instead of simply sorting listings in proximity or chronological order on the recommendation page, we placed the top three listings under the "AI generated for you" section to show that these three listings are the best matches based on the user profile preference. We also provide the option to explore potential listings in proximity order in case the user wants to find the closest property to their institution.
Final design insight 3
Supportive neighbourhood insights
Rental price alert
Besides the essential details of the listing, the AI system compares approximate rental price trends throughout the year, so users to know whether the pricing is typical or abnormal for said area.
Reviews
The review section provides insights from previous renters, giving users a bigger picture of the neighbourhood, easing the whole research process.
Tenancy resources
Before users reach the end of a listing and feel they have reviewed all the key information, we wanted to provide the tenancy resources at the end of each listing. This helps newcomers succeed in the housing search process in BC since they may not be familiar with the tenancy laws when they start house searching.
Reflection
- Making the interactive prototype helped consolidate the user journey and determine which interaction gives the best user experience.
- With a tight deadline, distributing the tasks based on each individual's strengths matters more than individual output.