TIMELINE
Sep – July 24
ROLE
Product Design
User research
UX Research
Prototyping
A/B Testing
INDUSTRY
Real Estate
TEAM
1 product designer
3 full-stack developers
TEAM
At Alokee Inc., I collaborated closely with front-end and back-end engineers, along with product owners, to design and develop an AI-driven real estate platform. Our goal was to simplify the home-buying experience by addressing the challenges of traditional real estate interfaces, cluttered layouts, inconsistent processes, and overwhelming information.
This cross-functional collaboration allowed us to align business objectives with user needs while ensuring seamless implementation of our design solutions. Over the course of the project, our team worked through key design phases, including user research, competitor analysis, and usability testing, to create a more intuitive and user-friendly home-buying platform.
My role
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Conducted primary research, including user interviews and competitor analysis, to understand user pain points in the home-buying process.
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Translated research insights into viable design solutions that addressed user needs and business goals.
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Designed the user experience for the real estate platform, focusing on simplicity and intuitive navigation.
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Created high-fidelity user interfaces that aligned with the platform’s branding and user expectations.
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Developed interactive prototypes to visualize and test design concepts.
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Conducted usability testing at different stages to gather feedback and refine the design.
PROBLEM
Homebuyers often face challenges with traditional real estate platforms, struggling with complex navigation, inconsistent interfaces, and overwhelming information. Alokee addresses these issues by providing an AI-powered, user-friendly platform that simplifies the home-buying experience in California, ensuring clarity, consistency, and ease of use.
Opportunity
We saw the chance to create a user-centered platform that simplifies the entire home-buying journey. By offering a seamless experience from start to finish, buyers can save on agent commissions and streamline the process in one convenient platform.
Our three objectives
Simplify
Help users
Clarity
Empathizing with Users
We focused on understanding the needs and challenges of homebuyers navigating traditional real estate platforms. By conducting user research, creating personas, and mapping user journeys, we gained insights into the pain points users face, such as complex processes and disorganized interfaces. This approach allowed us to design a solution that delivers a streamlined, efficient, and user-centered experience.
User stories
As a startup founder, I want to find a home that serves both as a personal residence and an occasional brainstorming space for my team, so that I can streamline my home-buying journey without the hassle of disorganized and time-consuming platforms.
Evan, Startup founder in California
Samantha, Product Manager, San Diego
User stories
As a product manager, I want to find a family-friendly home through a user-friendly platform that offers AI-powered recommendations and clear, concise information, so that I can enjoy a stress-free and efficient home-buying experience.
user stories
end to end platform
As a user, I want a platform that guides me through every step of the home-buying process, from search to closing, so that I can have a streamlined and stress-free experience.
AI-POWERED PROPERTY RECOMMENDATIONS
As a first-time homebuyer, I want to receive personalized property recommendations based on my preferences and budget, so that I can find suitable homes without feeling overwhelmed by choices.
COMMISSION-FREE TRANSACTIONS
As a cost-conscious buyer, I want to complete my home purchase without paying agent commissions, so that I can allocate more funds towards my new home.
Optimized checkout flow
Key components like buttons and tables were not optimized for different screen sizes, particularly mobile devices, leading to a poor user experience.
Redesign for Enhanced Click-Through
The lack of a unified design system resulted in inconsistencies in the flow of the website and interface, with color inconsistencies and oversized buttons.
Challenge
Lack of grid system
Introduce a consistent grid system to ensure alignment and spacing across all design elements, enhancing visual harmony and usability.
Accessibility issues
Address color contrast issues to meet WCAG guidelines, ensuring accessibility for users with visual impairments and enhancing overall inclusivity.
Lack of mobile responsive
Improving responsiveness for desktop and introducing mobile screens with the use of modular components and responsive buttons for enhanced user experience.
Confusing navigation
Need for better navigation flow and usability across the website, informing users intuitively to complete the checkout flow and improving user engagement.
Non-responsive elements
Key components like buttons and tables were not optimized for different screen sizes, particularly mobile devices, leading to a poor user experience.
Inconsistent user flow
The lack of a unified design system resulted in inconsistencies in the flow of the website and interface, with color inconsistencies and oversized buttons.
Improvements
Efficient property search
Improving responsiveness for desktop and mobile screens with the use of modular components and responsive buttons for enhanced user experience.
Simplified pricing plan
Need for better navigation flow and usability across the website, informing users intuitively to complete the checkout flow and improving user engagement.
Hi-fi mockups
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High fidelity
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Retrospective
This project was centered around the role of human-centered design and problem-solving in creating effective digital solutions. By engaging in continuous feedback loops with the client and closely collaborating with front-end developers, we ensured that the design was both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Iterative design and adaptability were key components of this process, with A/B testing playing a crucial role in refining the user interface for optimal mobile responsiveness.
Enhanced skills in prototyping and interactive elements increased user engagement, while the use of components and variants maintained design consistency. Ultimately, these efforts balanced usability with business needs, significantly improving the user experience.
Future plans & AI Possibilities
For Alokee Inc., integrating AI-driven features into the design process could have further streamlined the user experience and enhanced its ability to support users throughout their real estate journey. AI could be used to analyze user behavior and preferences, allowing the platform to recommend personalized property listings and offer suggestions for loan programs or home features based on past actions. Additionally, incorporating machine learning algorithms into the negotiation and counter-offer process could optimize decision-making, presenting users with data-driven suggestions to maximize offers while maintaining budgetary constraints.
AI-powered chatbots could provide immediate, 24/7 assistance to users, addressing common questions and concerns related to home buying, loan pre-approvals, and legal documents. These AI features would provide a more intuitive and responsive experience, giving users confidence in their decisions while keeping the process autonomous and efficient. Furthermore, Alokee could use predictive analytics to estimate market trends and potential property value appreciation, helping users make more informed purchasing decisions. By implementing AI technologies, Alokee could provide a more intelligent, personalized, and streamlined real estate experience for users.