01Meza

Project Overview

Two startup founders approached my design partner, Alice Xiao, and me with a distinct vision: to amplify the advantages of working from home. Though they were in the early stages of securing funding and had garnered interest from several investors, there was a crucial missing element—the product itself. Alice and I began our engagement with a series of in-depth stakeholder workshops aimed at comprehensively understanding their business objectives, product goals, and, most significantly, the customer experience they aspired to deliver.

The project was not simply about crafting an application but envisioning an experience that would redefine the concept of home-based work. Our focus was not only on understanding their goals but also translating these into a product that met the evolving needs of the modern remote workforce.

Project Goals

1. Carry out primary and secondary research.
2. Gain empathy for customers and identify their functional, emotional, and social requirements.
3. Define user personas and map user journeys.
4. Brainstorm and ideate potential solutions.
5. Develop a solution for how customers might discover and reserve homes.
6. Design a solution for the customer’s seamless entry and exit from homes.
7. Sketch initial wireframes of the application’s interface.
8. Test these wireframes with potential users for feedback.
9. Refine the design based on the feedback and develop high-fidelity prototypes.
10. Ensure the application exudes an elevated feel through its design.
11. Perform usability testing with the high-fidelity prototype.
12. Iterate the design based on testing results and feedback.
13. Establish the application’s branding, including the creation of the logo.
14. Develop a style guide to ensure consistency in the application’s visual elements.
15. Coordinate with developers for the app’s technical implementation.
16. Monitor post-launch user feedback and analytics for future enhancements.

Design

Over a span of two months, Alice and I successfully delivered a comprehensive, high-fidelity solution poised for development. This outcome incorporated a user-centric experience for customers, as well as a seamless flow for hosts. Harmoniously integrated, these elements crafted a customer-centric application poised to compete with industry giants such as Airbnb, WeWork, and DeskPass.

Estimated Financial Impact

If this experience manages to secure even a small portion of this market, the revenue could be quite impressive. For instance, capturing just 1% of WeWork’s revenue from 2020 would result in $32 million per year. A more ambitious target, say 10%, would yield $320 million annually.

It’s also important to note that the co-working industry is projected to continue growing, particularly given the ongoing shift towards flexible and remote work options. Thus, these figures could be higher in the current year or near future.