RENTING PLATFORM - 3 min read
Roomee
Roomee
Roomee
Lead
Lead
Haley Ngai
Haley Ngai
EXPERTISE
EXPERTISE
EXPERTISE
UX Research, UI Design
UX Research, UI Design
UX Research, UI Design
YEAR
YEAR
YEAR
March 2024 - June 2024
March 2024 - June 2024
March 2024 - June 2024
Project Overview
Project Overview
My friend got scammed $5000 by a fake broker while trying to look for apartments in NYC.
Roomee is a roommate and rental room finder app designed specifically for college students in cities, prioritizing safety and convenience.
The platform helps students search for rooms, lease rentals, and find compatible roommates through verified listings, lifestyle-based matching, and built-in communication features.
My friend got scammed $5000 by a fake broker while trying to look for apartments in NYC.
Roomee is a roommate and rental room finder app designed specifically for college students in cities, prioritizing safety and convenience.
The platform helps students search for rooms, lease rentals, and find compatible roommates through verified listings, lifestyle-based matching, and built-in communication features.
Solution
Solution
Roomee provides a trusted roommate and rental platform tailored to students’ needs. With verified listings, a compatibility quiz, and chat, it makes finding housing safer & easier.
Roomee provides a trusted roommate and rental platform tailored to students’ needs. With verified listings, a compatibility quiz, and chat, it makes finding housing safer & easier.
Problem
Problem
College students often struggle with finding safe and affordable rental options and reliable roommates. Existing platforms lack trust, leading to mismatches, scams, and unsafe encounters.
College students often struggle with finding safe and affordable rental options and reliable roommates. Existing platforms lack trust, leading to mismatches, scams, and unsafe encounters.
UX Research
UX Research
UX Research
I conducted both qualitative and quantitative research to figure out the pain points with the existing room rental apps
Surveys: Over 10 college students from NYU, Parsons, and nearby universities in NYC
Interviews: 10 one-on-one conversations exploring frustrations with existing rental apps.
I conducted both qualitative and quantitative research to figure out the pain points with the existing room rental apps
Surveys: Over 10 college students from NYU, Parsons, and nearby universities in NYC
Interviews: 10 one-on-one conversations exploring frustrations with existing rental apps.
Key Findings - PAIN POINTS
Key Findings - PAIN POINTS
Safety issues: Difficulty verifying listings and avoiding scams.
Lack of trust: No reliable way to confirm roommate compatibility.
Lifestyle mismatches: Existing filters (gender, budget) ignore habits like schedules, cleanliness, and study preferences.
Safety issues: Difficulty verifying listings and avoiding scams.
Lack of trust: No reliable way to confirm roommate compatibility.
Lifestyle mismatches: Existing filters (gender, budget) ignore habits like schedules, cleanliness, and study preferences.
User Interviews
User Interviews
User Interviews
Student A
Student A
Student A
“There was a 40 year old man asking even though he knows my age.”
“I wish there’s easier ways to find roommates with similar
expectations.”
College Student in Parsons, Age 20
“There was a 40 year old man asking even though he knows my age.”
“I wish there’s easier ways to find roommates with similar
expectations.”
College Student in Parsons, Age 20
“There was a 40 year old man asking even though he knows my age.”
“I wish there’s easier ways to find roommates with similar
expectations.”
College Student in Parsons, Age 20
Student B
Student B
Student B
“It is difficult to find room for rent in the area with a price range that is affordable but within the location where I can commute to work and school easily. I wish to find a roommate who has similar expectations for a room.”
College Student in NYU, Age 22
“It is difficult to find room for rent in the area with a price range that is affordable but within the location where I can commute to work and school easily. I wish to find a roommate who has similar expectations for a room.”
College Student in NYU, Age 22
“It is difficult to find room for rent in the area with a price range that is affordable but within the location where I can commute to work and school easily. I wish to find a roommate who has similar expectations for a room.”
College Student in NYU, Age 22
User Personas A
User Personas A
While there are many websites and applications design for finding roommates and renting out places, it can often be dangerous to meet and live with strangers online
While there are many websites and applications design for finding roommates and renting out places, it can often be dangerous to meet and live with strangers online
User Personas B
User Personas B
Having conversations with college students across the city allowed me to understood that many issues with the existing apps/sites, or it is often difficult to find a matching roommate with similar living habits.
Having conversations with college students across the city allowed me to understood that many issues with the existing apps/sites, or it is often difficult to find a matching roommate with similar living habits.
Define Solution & Prototype
Define Solution & Prototype
Define Solution & Prototype
Core Features
Core Features
Verified Listings: Ensures safety and reduces scams by validating all rooms and rentals
Roommate Matching Quiz: Connects students with compatible roommates based on lifestyle and habits
Built-in Chat: Provides secure in-app communication without relying on external platforms
User Flow Diagram
User Flow Diagram
User Flow Diagram
High-Fidelity Wireframe
High-Fidelity Wireframe
High-Fidelity Wireframe
Final Design Iteration
Final Design Iteration
Final Design Iteration
Post feedback design iterations
Post feedback design iterations
Outcome
Outcome
Outcome
80% of students preferred Roomee over existing apps in usability testing.
Students felt safer and more confident finding housing and roommates.
Final design proved that safety + compatibility are key drivers of adoption and trust.
80% of students preferred Roomee over existing apps in usability testing.
Students felt safer and more confident finding housing and roommates.
Final design proved that safety + compatibility are key drivers of adoption and trust.
00X
Roomee
Projects
Experiences.
Experiences.
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