Roomi

Preface

When in college it's not easy to find a roommate. The client wanted the process to be streamlined and more personal to the customer. Personality is everything when it comes to picking someone to live with. So we created Roomi, an app that uses personality type when matching people together.

Role: UX/UI Designer

Tools: Figma

Timeline: 2 weeks

The Challenge

We needed a way to match people up so that people didn't have to go in as strangers.

The Solution

We combined the idea of a dating app with swiping through different profiles but thought that was too impersonal. The best way we have as matching people up is through the Myers Briggs Personality Indicator.

Opening Screen

We designed the opening screen to be just like a dating app. The information on different profiles is scrollable. The pictures are swipe-able just like dating apps.

User Interviews and Surveys

Conducting user interviews and surveys is crucial to gather first-hand insights into the challenges and preferences of college students when looking for roommates. These interviews include students from diverse backgrounds, academic levels (undergraduates, graduates), and living situations (on-campus, off-campus, commuting).

Key Findings:

Pain Points: Common issues include differences in cleanliness, study habits, sleep schedules, and social activities. Conflicts often arise from misaligned expectations and lifestyle choices.
Preferences: Many students prefer roommates with similar academic commitments and lifestyle habits. For example, night owls struggle with early risers, and introverts may find extroverted roommates challenging.

Personas and User Journey Mapping

Creating detailed personas representing various student types can help understand their specific needs and behaviors. User journey maps illustrate the process students go through when searching for roommates, highlighting key touchpoints and potential frustrations.

Personas:

The Focused Student: Prioritizes academics, needs a quiet environment.
The Social Butterfly: Enjoys socializing, seeks a roommate who is open to communal activities.
The Balanced Student: Looks for a balance between social life and academic focus.

User Journey:

Discovery Phase: Students often start by asking friends or using bulletin boards and social media groups.
Evaluation Phase: Assessing potential roommates involves checking social media profiles, meeting in person, and discussing living habits.
Decision Phase: Final decisions are typically based on gut feelings due to the lack of structured compatibility data.

Competitive Analysis

Examining existing roommate matching services and their shortcomings provides insights into unmet needs and opportunities for innovation. Current solutions often lack comprehensive personality matching and detailed profiles.

Key Insights:

Limited Matching Criteria: Many services only consider basic preferences (e.g., smoking, pets) rather than deeper personality traits.
Poor User Experience: Clunky interfaces and lack of mobile optimization can frustrate users.
Insufficient Support: Users often lack guidance and support throughout the matching process, leading to uncertainty and mismatches.

Usability Testing

Testing early prototypes with students can reveal usability issues and areas for improvement. This involves tasks such as creating a profile, browsing potential roommates, and initiating contact.

Findings:

Navigation Challenges: Users may struggle with complex interfaces. Simplified, intuitive navigation is essential.
Profile Completion: Detailed profiles with easy-to-understand personality assessments encourage users to provide accurate information.
Matching Accuracy: Users prefer clear explanations of compatibility scores and how matches are determined.

Research

Sketches

Quiz

When signing up for Roomi everyone takes a MBTI test that is 10 questions. I made the interface as simple as possible. Who doesn't love a quiz about themself?