Giva Construction Group
Web & mobile platform for home renovation services
Homeowners felt left in the dark during renovation projects, no visibility into progress, slow communication with contractors, and a frustrating lack of control. I redesigned the platform to bring transparency, real-time collaboration, and trust back into the renovation journey.
Problem
Users faced long communication delays with contractors and designers. This resulted in frustration, lack of transparency, and a feeling of being left out of the renovation process. receiving updates and responses from contractors or interior designers
Solution
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We redesigned the platform to streamline communication and empower users throughout the renovation journey. Key features included:
Real-time Messaging: Direct chat with contractors and designers to receive instant updates, share photos, and track progress.
Project Timeline Tracking: A visual roadmap of milestones, deadlines, and progress updates to reduce uncertainty.
Design Visualization Tools: 3D previews and interactive mockups that allow users to visualize their design choices.
Budget & Cost Estimator: Built-in calculator for cost breakdowns and budgeting assistance.
Post-Renovation Support: A dedicated support hub for maintenance questions and continued engagement after project completion.
Research
During the synthesis phase, I employed affinity mapping to analyze pain points and establish priorities. Subsequently, I developed task flows to identify areas in the user journey where issues were arising. This led to the creation of Lo-Fi sketches and Hi-Fi clickable prototypes. Ultimately, I validated the redesign by obtaining user feedback and confirming the resolution of pain points. The entire project was executed within a two-week timeline. Now, let’s delve deeper into each of these steps
Interview
At the heart of my research approach is the unwavering commitment to understand users’ needs, desires, and challenges deeply. I firmly believe that every renovation journey is unique, and my role as a UX researcher is to uncover insights that guide transformative solutions. This empathy-driven approach aligns seamlessly with the renovating industry’s goal of enhancing spaces to meet users’ expectations.
Surveys
After the project kickoff, we defined our research strategy and objectives. Understanding the target audience and their challenges were our priority. First, we built an online survey and shared it in various relevant communities. In just a few days, we received 10 submissions. Based on these, we identified 4 common pain points, which lead us to the next step.
- Users want to actively participate in the design process but feel left out of decisions.
- Users encounter challenges after the renovation is completed and struggle to get prompt assistance.
- Users might feel that their unique preferences and customization needs are not adequately addressed
- Users become overwhelmed by the multitude of decisions they need to make during the renovation process.
Personas
Lara is a 45-year-old who works as a marketing manager in a tech company. She’s passionate about cooking and spends a significant amount of time experimenting with new recipes in her kitchen. She recently moved into a new apartment and is excited to personalize her kitchen to suit her cooking needs and style.
Goals:
To renovate her kitchen in a way that maximizes functionality and aesthetics.
To find a user-friendly and efficient renovation app that guides her through the entire process.
To discover design inspiration and ideas for her kitchen that align with her love for modern and minimalist aesthetics.
To receive assistance and support during the renovation process, especially when facing challenges.
Challenges:
Limited experience in interior design and renovation, so she’s seeking guidance and information.
Wants to avoid making costly mistakes or overlooking important details.
Busy work schedule leaves her with limited time to research and plan her kitchen renovation thoroughly.
Needs and Desires:
A renovation app that simplifies the planning and decision-making process.
Access to a wide range of design ideas and material options for a modern and minimalist kitchen.
Clear guidance on measuring the space, setting a budget, and selecting appropriate fixtures and appliances.
Interactive features that allow her to visualize design choices before making final decisions.
Ability to connect with professionals or a community for advice and support.
Wireframes
In this section, I’ll walk you through the wireframing phase of a user-centric renovation app project. The goal of this project was to create a digital solution that simplifies the kitchen renovation process for users like Sara, who are passionate about redesigning their spaces to align with their unique preferences and lifestyles.
Before diving into wireframing, I conducted thorough user research to understand the pain points and needs of our target audience. I interviewed potential users, analyzed competitors’ apps, and created user personas to guide the design process. This groundwork helped us identify key features and functionalities that would provide the most value to users.
Example:
Real-time Chat Support:
I integrated a chat feature accessible from every screen, enabling users to seek assistance from design experts whenever they encountered challenges or had questions.
Key Takeaways
The wireframing phase demonstrated the importance of translating user needs into a clear visual structure. It emphasized the significance of features like real-time support, interactive visualization, and post-renovation engagement to enhance the user experience. The wireframes also highlighted the value of incorporating community features to create a sense of belonging and continuous engagement.
Usability Testing
I created a fully-functional, high-fidelity prototype of the new flows using Axure. At the same time, we started recruiting subjects for the test who fit our criteria. We did 4 usability tests in the first round and 3 after iterating on the issues that we’ve identified:
Issue:
Real-time Chat Support:
I integrated a chat feature accessible from every screen, enabling users to seek assistance from design experts whenever they encountered challenges or had questions.
I integrated a chat feature accessible from every screen, enabling users to seek assistance from design experts whenever they encountered challenges or had questions.
Solution:
Implement a persistent but unobtrusive chat icon that expands into a chat window when clicked. This way, users can easily access assistance while maintaining a clean and focused interface.
