Kaya
Transforming the roommate search into a compatibility-driven experience
Team & roles
Jesh Anies - UX Research & Design
Laura Trouiller - Mentor
Project Duration
November 2024 - April 2025
Responsibilities
User Research, Wireframing, Prototyping, Usability Testing
Compatibility is Key
The search for the ideal roommate is an involved process that takes time and understanding to see who is the most compatible for a shared living space. Research done by the Pew Research Center states that in the United States, 31.9% of households are “doubled up,” meaning the space is shared with at least one adult who isn’t a spouse, romantic partner, or college student. That leaves almost 79 million adults living in a housemate-style situation. As rental and housing costs continue to rise, it’s imperative that sharing a living space with someone will keep costs low.
This problem struck a chord with me when I was figuring out the logistics of moving to NYC. I knew I wanted to find a roommate to split the cost of rent with. During that time, I used various methods to connect with people who are also looking for roommates with similar goals/habits for a shared living space. While I was fortunate to secure a roommate, there were a few factors that felt unpleasant throughout the search process including: the lack of security, no opportunity to compare profiles and visually unappealing interfaces across the board. Based on my personal experience, I’m convinced there has to be a better way to find a roommate.
As I thought about the logistics of searching for someone to split rent with, I needed to test the assumption that professionals who are looking for compatible roommates with shared values and budget constraints are difficult to find when having to move to a new city or within their existing one.
The solution
Design a user-friendly app that allows users to search profiles and connect with users to determine their compatibility for a shared living space. I call it Kaya.
The problem
Professionals who are looking for compatible roommates with shared values and budget constraints are difficult to find when having to move to a new city or within their existing one.
Research
Secondary Research
To further understand the problem, I began research seeking existing knowledge to find answers to the following questions:
Who is most likely to rent?
Who is struggling with looking for roommates?
Why do people struggle with looking for roommates?
What are the main factors causing these struggles?
What are the qualities people look for in a good roommate?
What are some solutions that already exist and how do they compare?
Here are my findings…
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Starting Out Singles (largest cohort) – Early-career renters with the lowest incomes (~$41K). They live in smaller, more affordable units but spend a bigger share of income on rent. Less likely to be married, have pets, or live in newer buildings. Source: RealPage Analytics, 2022.
Roommates by Necessity (second-largest, ~23%) – Younger renters (avg. 28) with higher incomes (~$80K). They rent in higher-cost markets, often in mid-rise apartments, and sign shorter leases. Less likely to rent large units, marry, or share a vehicle. Source: RealPage Analytics, 2022.
Independent Seniors (fastest-growing) – Older renters (avg. 56.5) with modest incomes (~$48K). Often live alone, move less, and choose older/smaller apartments. Less likely to live in expensive markets, mid/high-rises, or with children. Source: RealPage Analytics, 2022.
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Young Adults: College students and recent graduates who are moving for education or career opportunities are the most common group.
Mid-Career Professionals: Those moving for job opportunities, often in expensive cities, struggle to find affordable housing with compatible roommates.
Older Adults: Cohabitas app caters to individuals over 40, highlighting the struggles faced by this demographic when looking for compatible roommates later in life.
Low-Income Individuals: Those on tight budgets rely heavily on free or low-cost platforms, which often lack adequate safety measures.
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Trust and Security Concerns: Safety is a significant issue. Many people worry about scams, unsafe living situations, or unreliable roommates. Platforms like Craigslist lack verification processes, which makes users wary.
Compatibility Issues: Finding someone with similar values, schedules, cleanliness standards, and social habits can be challenging. Compatibility is essential for a harmonious living situation but hard to ensure without in-depth communication.
Lack of Reliable Platforms: Despite many apps and websites, few provide comprehensive solutions combining security, user-friendly interfaces, and effective matching algorithms.
Financial Pressures: Housing affordability issues make it challenging to find roommates who can reliably share rent and utility costs.
Limited Local Knowledge: Moving to a new city often means users lack familiarity with neighborhoods, cost standards, or even how to find trustworthy roommates.
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Cost of Living: Rising rents and housing expenses make it hard to afford spaces alone, increasing dependency on roommates while amplifying the pressure to find the "right" one.
Mismatched Expectations: Differences in habits (cleanliness, sleeping schedules, lifestyle preferences) lead to tension when not addressed upfront.
Limited Time and Resources: Many people need to secure roommates quickly, leaving little time for proper vetting.
Trust Issues: Scams and unreliable individuals on platforms like Craigslist make users hesitant.
Cultural and Lifestyle Differences: As cities become more diverse, varying cultural norms and expectations can complicate compatibility.
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According to a 2023 Zumper article, people look for:
Financial stability and reliability.
Cleanliness and shared expectations for household chores.
Compatibility in lifestyle, schedule, and values.
Respect for privacy and boundaries.
Open and constructive communication.
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SpareRoom: Offers robust search filters and messaging systems, making it easier to narrow down compatible roommates. Lacks the more rigorous security features of some competitors.
Roomster: Provides security through verification but has faced criticism for being expensive.
Roomi: Focuses on safety with its identity verification but has a smaller user base, limiting options.
Diggz: Uses personality and lifestyle matching to improve compatibility but lacks as strong a security emphasis as Roomi or Roomster.
Cohabitas: Caters specifically to older adults, emphasizing compatibility based on shared interests and lifestyles.
Craigslist: Free and widely used but notorious for scams and lack of safety measures.
Facebook: Utilized groups to facilitate roommate finding.
Strengths
Convenience
Easy searchability
Niche options (e.g., Cohabitas for older adults).
Personality-based matching (Diggz)
Verification processes (Roomi, Roomster).
Weaknesses
High costs (Roomster)
Small user bases (Cohabitas, Roomi)
Insufficient vetting processes (Craigslist)
Lack of integration between personal preferences and security in most platforms.
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While I seeked out information, some more questions arose as I tried to understand the problem further:
What other traits do people consider beyond hobbies or cleanliness?
How did people address concerns or disagreements during the vetting process with potential roommates?
How did people address rules or boundaries before you move-in with potential roommates?
What measures did you take to verify roommate information?
When is the ideal time for people to start looking for a roommate relative to your move-in date?
This serves as the basis for my primary research moving forward.
Primary Research
After finding what I could on existing knowledge, I wanted to identify pain points for people looking for a roommate that could sort and vet candidates based on compatibility.
I conducted six user interviews with those who struggled to find roommates. Based on the results I gathered from a screener survey, I chose participants that could be someone with or without a place but are looking for someone to live with, someone who currently lives with one or more adults or is looking to live with one or more adults and someone who shares a living space with someone who isn’t a spouse or romantic partner. The interviews were recorded so I could refer to the insights I’ve gathered from their experience.
I organized my findings using an affinity diagram to find overarching themes under a thematic analysis:
I organized my affinity diagram even further in FigJam so that it's much easier to read and navigate the content. After synthesizing my data, I boiled down the insights to 6 key findings:
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Trustworthy
Cleanliness
Respectful
Good communication
Fiscally responsible
“A lot of it is about trust.”
- Participant 01
“We want to make sure this space is a welcoming space and that is a clean space.”
- Participant 04
This confirms the secondary research from what I’ve gathered online about what people are seeking in a roommate.
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This could be conducted either in-person or via video chat as an alternative. Some would grab a meal together to better understand their personality and to see if they're trustworthy. A great way to "check the vibe."
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Though most things could be resolved with a conversation, participants wanted to level-set expectations ahead of time to mitigate any conflict that could build up in the future. During my conversations, some participants missed the opportunity to do so early on and would have liked to discuss them in the vetting process. Some things are going to be discussed on-going so it was important to be comfortable chatting proactively and early on in the relationship.
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Before relying on apps to find a compatible roommate, participants asked around in their own circles first. One participant utilized significant word of mouth referrals (50%) and another was usually invited by friends to be a roommate as there is already built-in trust from pre-existing relationships
“If our friend knows you, we trust that he's making a good judgment on you”
- Participant 03
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They could be shorter depending on the environment's sense of urgency and level of commitment, like in New York City.
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The most interesting recommendation that was made during the user interviews: Include a letter of recommendation as part of the vetting process. Two interviewees wanted to include a letter of recommendation as part of the vetting process for the next time they search for a roommate and one already utilizes it as a part of their process with 3 references (professional, pastoral, personal). Similarly, one interviewees requested bank statements to verify financial capability.
Persona
I also used my interview insights to create a persona based on a user struggling to look for a roommate. Meet Emily.
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The Leaseowner
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Main job
Find a roommate
Related jobs
Save on living expenses
Address concerns, boundaries and expectations
Finalize shared living arrangement details
Determine moving logistics
Emotional jobs
Cultivate a harmonious and welcoming shared living space
Social jobs
Split rent with a roommate
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Increase access to reliable roommate profiles by offering verified background checks and shared interests to ensure compatibility and trust.
Reduce the time spent searching for roommates by providing an intuitive platform with filters for budget, location, and lifestyle preferences.
Enhance communication between potential roommates by integrating secure messaging and video chat options for seamless discussions and decision-making.
Improve the transparency of living arrangements by clearly presenting shared expenses, lease details, and expectations to avoid conflicts.
Increase the sense of community among potential roommates by creating opportunities for social interactions and shared connections before moving in.
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When it’s time to move to a new shared living space but need a roommate to keep expenses low
When there’s an extra room available to rent out and need a roommate to fill it in
“If our friend knows you, we trust that he's making a good judgment on you”
- Participant 03
Jobs To Be Done
Then I brainstormed a Jobs To Be Done framework of the problem.
How Might We
Once all of the research was done, I brainstormed a list of guiding questions which set the foundation for providing a solution to the problem:
How might we increase access to reliable roommate profiles?
How might we reduce the time spent searching for roommates?
How might we enhance communication between potential roommates?
How might we promote trust and safety when looking for potential roommates?
Ideation
Initial Ideas
Moving into the ideation stage, I decided to use my how might we questions to generate solutions to the problems I had identified. Below is a list of potential ideas that could be used to help users find a compatible roommate…
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Verified Profiles: Require identity verification (e.g., government-issued ID) and social media/account linking to ensure authenticity.
Detailed Profiles: Encourage users to include comprehensive details such as habits, interests, work schedules, and lifestyle preferences.
Profile Completeness Meter: Add a progress bar to show how complete a profile is, incentivizing users to provide more information.
Review and Rating System: Allow previous roommates to leave reviews and ratings for individuals.
Preference Matching: Include filters for preferred living arrangements (e.g., cleanliness, noise levels, pets, etc.) to ensure compatibility.
Trust Badges: Display badges for actions like profile verification, providing references, or positive reviews.
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Quick Filters: Allow users to apply detailed filters (budget, location, gender preference, etc.) right from the homepage.
Interactive Map Search: Integrate an interactive map that displays potential roommates by location.
Saved Searches & Alerts: Let users save their search criteria and receive notifications when new matches are available.
Interest Gestures: Allow users to express interest in a profile with a single click or swipe.
Speed Matching Events: Host virtual speed-dating-style roommate-matching sessions.
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In-App Messaging: Provide a built-in, secure messaging platform for real-time communication.
Icebreaker Prompts: Add fun prompts or questions (e.g., “What’s your dream weekend activity?”) to kick start conversations.
Voice/Video Call Integration: Offer the ability to schedule and conduct voice or video calls directly within the app.
Message Templates: Provide suggested templates for initiating conversations (e.g., “Hi, I’m interested in learning more about your living preferences!”).
Highlight shared traits: Show mutual interests or overlapping preferences as prompts during chats.
Group Chats: Enable users to create group chats if multiple people are exploring living together.
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Letter of recommendation submission: Allow users to submit documents to verify their compatibility as a roommate
Background Checks: Offer optional background checks that users can pay for or opt into.
Safety Guides: Provide a guide on safe practices for meeting potential roommates or discussing living arrangements.
Conflict Mediation Resources: Include resources or tips for resolving disputes among roommates.
Report and Block Features: Ensure users can report or block suspicious profiles easily.
Roommate Agreements: Provide a template for creating a roommate agreement, ensuring both parties are aligned.
Transparent Reviews: Allow users to view how others have rated someone’s reliability, cleanliness, and communication.
Emergency Contact Integration: Let users optionally share emergency contact information with verified roommates.
User Stories
After listing out my initial ideas, I fleshed out user stories that would be included in the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). I focused on core scenarios that a user would experience in their search for a compatible roommate.
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As someone
Who’s building a profile
I want to...
Enter details such as moving location, habits, interests, work schedules, lifestyle preferences, preferred living arrangements (e.g., cleanliness, noise levels, pets), etc.
so that...
Others understand who I am and to find someone with similar preferences and move-in timeframe
Priority
1
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As someone
Who’s in the middle of their search
I want to...
Adjust map and filter preferences
so that...
The listing is more tuned to what I'm looking for
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who’s in the middle of their search
I want to...
Search for a particular keyword
so that...
I can filter things based on a profile I found earlier
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who’s in the middle of their search
I want to...
Look at user profiles
so that...
I can find a compatible roommate
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who’s in the middle of their search
I want to...
Start a conversation
so that...
I can gauge their personality
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who matched with someone
I want to...
Schedule a (phone or video) call
so that...
I can gauge their personality
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who’s looking to fill in an extra room
I want to...
Request a letter of recommendation
so that...
I can make an informed decision to live with them
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who has had a conversation with another user
I want to...
Decide / move forward with them
so that...
I can remove myself from the listing and archive other conversations
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who stepped away from the app for some time
I want to...
View notifications
so that...
I can quickly catch up on what I missed out on
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who matched with someone who is problematic
I want to...
Report a problem
so that...
They don't cause harm or trouble towards me or others
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who has made the decision to live with someone
I want to...
Archive other conversations
so that...
I can focus the conversation between my future roommate and I
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who’s building a profile
I want to...
Submit identity verification (e.g., government-issued ID)
so that...
I have a trustworthy profile
Priority
2
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As someone
Who matched with someone
I want to...
Run a software background check on them
so that...
I can make an informed decision to live with them
Priority
2
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As someone
Who doesn't know how to start a conversation
I want to...
Use suggested prompts / templates to talk
so that...
I can start the conversation positively
Priority
2
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As someone
Who doesn't know what to cover in a conversation
I want to...
Access a checklist of topics / preferences to cover
so that...
I cover all our bases as we chat
Priority
2
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As someone
Who has to reschedule a call
I want to...
Reschedule a call
so that...
I can chat at a better time
Priority
2
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As someone
Who wants to let others know I made the decision to go with someone else
I want to...
Use suggested prompts / templates to talk
so that...
I don't ghost them and continue politely
Priority
3
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As someone
Who is totally unsure of how to navigate search process
I want to...
Read up on tips and articles
so that...
I can navigate the search process with clarity and efficiency in mind
Priority
3
With an abundant list as my starting point, Laura then encouraged me to prioritize the top 10 user stories to design along with flows to focus on the key scenarios for the MVP.
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As someone
Who’s building a profile
I want to...
Enter details such as moving location, habits, interests, work schedules, lifestyle preferences, preferred living arrangements (e.g., cleanliness, noise levels, pets), etc.
so that...
Others understand who I am and to find someone with similar preferences and move-in timeframe
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who’s in the middle of their search
I want to...
Adjust map and filter preferences
so that...
The listing is more tuned to what I'm looking for
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who’s in the middle of their search
I want to...
Search for a particular keyword
so that...
I can filter things based on a profile I found earlier
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who’s in the middle of their search
I want to...
Look at user profiles
so that...
I can find a compatible roommate
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who’s in the middle of their search
I want to...
Start a conversation
so that...
I can gauge their personality
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who’s looking to fill in an extra room
I want to...
Request a letter of recommendation
so that...
I can make an informed decision to live with them
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who has had a conversation with another user
I want to...
Decide / move forward with them
so that...
I can remove myself from the listing and archive other conversations
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who stepped away from the app for some time
I want to...
View notifications
so that...
I can quickly catch up on what I missed out on
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who matched with someone who is problematic
I want to...
Report a problem
so that...
They don't cause harm or trouble towards me or others
Priority
1
-
As someone
Who has made the decision to live with someone
I want to...
Archive other conversations
so that...
I can focus the conversation between my future roommate and I
Priority
1
User Flow
I then designed user flows to help me visualize the various scenarios a user undergoes to accomplish each task from start to finish.
Sitemap
Putting together user flows helped me piece together how all of those scenarios could fit into a cohesive roommate finding experience. By creating a sitemap, I was able to see the connection and hierarchy of each screen.
When I reviewed my initial sitemap with Laura, there were more changes to be done so that the onboarding process was more clearly defined and the information architecture reflected a familiar structure to existing app experiences. To achieve this, there was less emphasis on tips/education for users and more emphasis on action-oriented interactions. Tips would be nested under the profile section updating the parent sections to include:
Finding roommate profiles (later renamed ‘Explore’)
Messages with matched profiles (later renamed ‘Messages’)
Notifications
Profile (later renamed ‘Account’)
This updated sitemap would lay the foundation for the user experience as it is used as the main navigation for the design.
Design
Sketches
Guerilla Usability Testing
I then conducted a guerilla test on my sketches to discover any pain points and confusion for a user navigating an app that would solve for finding a compatible roommate. The test was conducted via zoom in order to document the conversation.In order for the participants to engage with a test conducted digitally, I scanned my sketches and placed them in Figma and had them share their screen as they navigate and explore the sketches. After gathering feedback on the sketches, I boiled down the feedback to two key findings:
One of the most important findings that was discovered about my design was that it was easy to understand. My sketches pulled inspiration from dating apps, travel apps, social media apps, etc. so participants were already familiar with established UI/UX principles that were incorporated in my sketches. Participants understood the primary purpose of the app without me having to tell them and quickly found out as soon as you were onboarding and creating your profile.
The second most important finding was to hone the onboarding process more. While it was already thorough, participant feedback suggests that a few more things should be added and reordered to dial in your account to cover all your bases. These include adding a birthday, adding a search bar to state and city pages, adjusting the copy/language, adding stops to the sliders, categorizing tags, and more. Pointing out these suggestions would allow the user to personalize their profile more easily and with more clarity.
Once my ideas were organized into user stories, flows, and a sitemap, it was time to put pen to paper and sketch out how the user interface would potentially look like. While screens didn’t have to be drawn perfectly, they needed to be clear enough for the ideas to be understood when gathering feedback from a fresh set of eyes.
Wireframes
After organizing the insights gathered from guerilla testing, I then built out wireframes in Figma and applied edits based on user feedback. This became the digital framework for helping users find a compatible roommate. Designing in this stage allowed me to add more context to the UX by including live copy to help the user understand how to navigate the interface and how their actions would affect the experience. This also allowed me to begin implementing foundational design elements such as a grid system so that I could establish spatial relationships between components in the interface as well as the type hierarchy between content so I could separate out the text between header and body type.
Building the Brand
Prior to testing, I created an extensive brand and design system that would be applied to my concept, thus transforming the wireframe into high-fidelity prototypes. This would further flesh out my ideas so that the solution closely resembles an experience that exists in the real world.
Brand Platform
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I chose to name the product, Kaya, because of its short and memorable form while evoking warmth and balance.
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Kaya helps people find compatible roommates by fostering meaningful connections based on personality, lifestyle, and shared values.
Rationale
I chose this mission/vision because a living situation isn’t just about sharing space; it’s about compatibility, harmony, and mutual understanding. Kaya is designed to make the process of finding a roommate feel less like a gamble and more like a thoughtful, intuitive match.
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Kaya is like the friend who just gets you—thoughtful, intuitive, and always looking out for your best interest. It’s warm, approachable, and modern while staying smart and dependable. Kaya makes the roommate search feel effortless and enjoyable rather than stressful and overwhelming.
Rationale
I chose this personality because finding a roommate is more than a transaction—it’s about trust, comfort, and compatibility. Kaya should feel like a guide that understands people’s needs, reduces uncertainty, and makes the process enjoyable instead of daunting.
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Welcoming – Kaya makes users feel at ease, like stepping into a cozy, well-matched home.
Smart – Uses intelligent matching to connect people based on real compatibility.
Intuitive – The platform feels effortless, guiding users naturally toward great matches.
Trustworthy – Ensures users feel safe and confident in their choices.
Modern – Designed for today’s lifestyles, whether you’re a student, a professional, or a digital nomad.
Logo
The logo takes inspiration from fashion, editorial and wellness brands to visually personify the feeling of warmth and balance. Its use of a serif font was intentionally used to convey a more personable approach. Using the ‘K’ from the logotype, clear space should be considered when using the logo for clarity and hierarchy for users and audiences.
Color
The primary color is burnt orange. The strength in this color is most associated with the Kaya identity and should be primarily used for action-oriented components such as CTAs. Tints can be used to create depth without having to use a strong, saturated color.
The secondary colors include black, off-white and light grey that contrasts with burnt orange. The range in these colors allow for flexible use and should be primarily used for text and background colors to establish clarity and create depth. Tints can be used to create depth without having to use a strong, saturated color.
Typography
Designed with a size conscious approach, Neue Haas Grotesk is used as the official typeface for optimizing the spacing, proportions, weight, and other details best for reading on a screen. Neue Haas Grotesk was Helvetica’s original name and type designer Christian Schwartz has attempted to bring back the original Helvetica typeface. Display and header type utilize a medium weight whereas body and all other small type styles use roman weight.
Photography
Images that were used capture the essence of harmoniously living with a roommate and the journey it takes to build that relationship. They can include moments of living together with someone, moving in, having conversations together, figuring things out with one another, etc. Photography should promote diversity, equity and inclusion to represent the varying demographics.
Icons
Icons were included to provide another layer of visuals within the Kaya design system. They are used to provide clarity in situations where a concept can be boiled down to a scalable, universally understood image. Kaya uses Unicons as the icon set for the design system.
UI Elements
Once the direction of the brand was set, I designed a library of components that would frequently be used in the prototype. In Figma, these components were created so that adjustments to the master element would apply to all the matching elements within the prototype, streamlining the design process.
Hi-fidelity Prototype
With branding and a design system applied to the screens, Kaya is more than just wireframes; it’s now a high-fidelity prototype that users can interact with. Aside from just applying the visuals, I made a few adjustments to improve the user experience before testing out the app for usability testing. These changes include:
Honing in on the onboarding process for offering a room so that the user can add additional photos of the room they’re hoping to fill.
Adjusting the button style to provide more clarity when toggling between ‘looking for a room’ and ‘offering a room’
Expanding the notifications so that the user can organize things between ‘all’ and ‘unread’.
Expanding the account settings to give the user flexibility to change their account type between ‘looking for a room’ and ‘offering a room’.
Test
Usability Test
After completing the initial stage of high-fidelity prototypes for Kaya, usability testing was conducted to evaluate the app’s overall usability, identify any friction points, and assess whether users can navigate key features intuitively. After testing with 5 participants, insights and feedback were logged regarding user behavior to help refine the interface.
Overall reactions from participants garnered positive feedback, with participants finding the app “intuitive and engaging.” They successfully navigated through key app features while identifying several improvements to the user experience - most of them could be easily adjusted with one critical problem to consider.
Below is how the prototype was updated based on user feedback…
🔴 Critical Feedback
One critical piece of feedback that was suggested was to include a way for users to track their connection invitations as participants valued transparency with connecting with potential roommates. Though connecting with other users took inspiration from dating apps where there's no way to track your invitations (usually hidden in the back-end of the UX), connecting with people you’d potentially live with required a more personable approach and needed to be reflected on the front-end. In addition to building that page, I thought it’d be useful to allow users to include a short message when they send an invitation, pulling inspiration from experiences such as Linkedin. This inclusion was a way to add a human touch by personalizing your invitations.
🟠 Major Feedback
While not as critical, these edits further enhanced the user in various ways such as…
Nesting the ‘log in’ and ‘create an account’ pages under a splash page. One participant noted that the option to create an account felt hidden and suggested that the CTA should have the same hierarchy as the log in button. Understanding their concern, I felt that having too many of the same button type on one screen felt too cluttered, so alternatively it made sense to start the user’s journey with a splash page.
Implementing neighborhood selection during initial profile creation as two participants experienced confusion about the purpose of the location/range settings in the filter.
Switching out the heart icon for a bookmark icon for favoriting as three participants have noted that the heart icon for favorites could be misinterpreted as "matching".
🟡 Minor Feedback
Some of the minor edits included…
Adding a pet option in filters and profile creation as one participant expressed concern about lack of representation for roommates with pets as they themself own a cat.
Adding a calendar view for when you are moving in with the profile creation process. This feedback comes as one participant felt that a calendar was more intuitive than typing in the date using a text field.
Adding a header under the search bar to clarify the search type. For example, “Looking for users that are looking for a room and offering a room” as one participant pointed out that it could be helpful to remind users the search type that is being implemented in the explore page.
Add option to add to calendar when scheduling a call as one participant who organizes things in her calendar, expressed concern about lack of calendar integration when scheduling a call.
Adding an "ASAP" option for move-in dates during the onboarding process. This comes as two participants have noted there isn’t enough flexibility for move-in date if you’re unsure what to add for those looking for a room.
Implementing a budget range slider instead of single text field numeric input. One participant suggested this addition to consider those who’re unsure about their budget when looking for a room.
Include visual indicators to show if a decision has been made from the message list view. A participant noted their concerns about not knowing who you’ve decided to live with in case messages from other users populate the message list view.
Include more specific (and human) labeling for actions like "available again" instead of "archive" as one participant felt like the profiles that were archived felt like you have completely discarded the other user.
🟢 Normal Feedback
A simple text edit included…
Renaming "Checklist" to "Suggested Topics" for clarity as two participants experienced confusion with "checklist" terminology.
Second Usability Test
With the updates applied to the high-fidelity prototype, it was time to run it back and conduct a second round of usability testing. After testing with 5 participants, insights and feedback were logged regarding user behavior to help refine the interface.
In this round of testing, participants expressed their ability to easily navigate the app with improvements to the interface, similar to the feedback from the first round. Two participants found that the interface is intuitive and familiar, especially for users accustomed to social media and dating apps. Participants even expressed how they resonated with the app's warm color palette and human-centric design elements.
With a strong foundation to work off of, this round produced less feedback compared to the first round. Below is how the prototype was updated based on user feedback…
🟡 Minor Feedback
Some of the minor edits included…
Allow users to adjust their “no longer interested” message when archiving a message. This comes as one participant suggested evaluating the implications of the automatic "no longer interested" message when archiving conversations considering some users may prefer manually sending that note when they’re ready to.
Implement stops for profile sliders. One participant assumed that the personality sliders felt like you have too much freedom adjusting the scale and should have stops to visually let you know how many options you have within the range
Adding a media gallery to easily access uploaded documents as one participant expressed their concern about a lack of access to uploaded images and documents in the message thread.
🟢 Normal Feedback
Simple text edits included…
Clarify language around room pricing ("monthly rent" vs "room offer") as one participant pointed out that if you're offering a room, “how much is the monthly offer?” sounds like you are negotiating a price when that is already a set number
Rewording the "Send" button to "Send Message" for clarity as one participant felt a little bit of confusion when reading “send” when you draft a message to send invitation requests and also with decisions and archive as well.
Other feedback to consider
While I was able to implement most feedback from usability testing, there were a few valuable suggestions I didn’t get around to. Here are a few examples…
Consider nesting message requests under ‘messages’ instead of ‘explore’. Two participants instinctively looked for message requests under messages (post-match) instead of explore (pre-match). I struggled to make this edit because I see the value in both ways, but because I wanted to organize related features before the user matches with a profile, I kept it nested under ‘explore’.
Determine a process for users offering multiple rooms in the same apartment as one participant noted that there’s a possibility that someone lives in a 3-bedroom apartment and may offer two of those rooms at the same time.
Implementing group chat features as there could be instances where there are more than two people occupying a shared living space.
Explore document verification to determine the authenticity of submitted documents. There are ways to do this via email. I recall onboarding with an employer one time where I submitted my information and documents that had to be verified by someone I trust. They received an email that outlined the information and, with their consent, clicked a CTA that notified the employer that the info they reviewed is real and authentic. A similar method could be implemented for verifying the authenticity of submitted documents.
Adding a feature to clear or delete notifications. This would be a neat feature to include in case a user gets annoyed with all the notifications coming through and would rather see it empty.
Test
What I learned
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With my background in graphic design and web design, I was eager to dive into the designs. But after going through the whole process of designing Kaya, the more I realize it all starts with having a firm grasp on the problem so that we can explore the space with research to uncover insights that inform the solution, especially the visual design and user interface aspect of the solution. If I didn’t really test the assumption that finding a compatible roommate would be difficult, I doubt I would have a comprehensive solution that helps users find compatible roommates by fostering meaningful connections based on personality, lifestyle, and shared values. In all honesty, I would have most likely built a solution that wouldn’t be any more different than roommate finding apps that already exist.
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After sketching my solution to the problem, I was eager to dive into figma and bring the wireframes to life. Again, this comes from my background and experience with working in agencies as a graphic and web designer. However, Laura encouraged me to review my sketches with participants to collect any insights about the design. If it not for them, I wouldn’t have known to add a add birthday input during the onboarding process so users can display their age on their profile, adjusting the copy and language depending whether the user onboards with “looking for a room” vs “offering a room”, displaying only the first initial of last a profile’s last name for security purposes, and so much more. Their suggestions honed the solution even further into something that can be accessible for a wide range of users.
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While all feedback is valuable, ranking problems from critical to normal after usability testing helped me prioritize which edits to make. Fortunately, the feedback I received was easy to adjust in the prototype for Kaya so I was able to resolve most of them. However, in a real world scenario this exercise will really come in handy as I imagine working within the constraints of a deadline. I strive to best meet the users needs, so the problem log is a great way to keep me accountable and prioritize the most important edits.
What I would do (or like to do) differently
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Doing this would open up more possibilities for the user experience. For example, many participants during user testing were curious about how the search bar would function in the explore page. It’s function is to filter user profiles based on the key word that you type in but it could even be used to search for tags as well. Implementing back-end properties opens up the door for even more ways to explore and compare profiles.
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This would give me unique insight as to where users are clicking the most, which pages get the most traffic, uncover user behaviour and more. Doing this would help with conversion rates and any metrics that could be determined for success. I foresee an even better user experience for users finding and connecting with compatible roommates with data-driven solutions.
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As a visual learner, I found it difficult to write the copy for the user experience. Wireframes showed that the different user types were initially called, “I’m looking for a roommate and a room” and “I’m offering a room and need a roommate”. This was too long, so Laura suggested I simply say “I’m looking for a room” and “I’m offering a room”. Another instance that I found difficult was writing the text blurbs that inform the user what happens when you “make a decision” and “archive”. I’ll have to look up resources that help me write better to keep things simple and clear for users without having to read too much.
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Unfortunately, an app’s value is tied to how much money they can make. I like to think that Kaya is only successful if it’s just as secure. If users are building their profile and verifying accounts with government-issued IDs, I imagine the app could natively have its own background check software to verify users. There could be the possibility of including it as a paid feature to provide a background check on your matches to see if they are trustworthy. If the app can be used without implementing a subscription model or “pro” features, then I believe the UX is accessible for a wide range of users and is aligned with helping users find a compatible roommate.