Even with your money, renting an apartment in Lagos is real work. From moving around the streets to meeting up with agents to going from house to house without apartments. At times our choices are higher than our budget, others times, there is this specified notion of class and pictures that we have in our head that cannot be easily met up with. Either way, accommodation is still very important. Lagos, the center of Nigeria’s business is always occupied with one thing or another. So, what challenges have people faced in renting apartments in Lagos?
As a result of the increase in population in cities, finding a good apartment or roommate has become increasingly difficult. In spite of the fact that there are many platforms for people to find rooms and roommates, most of them are overrun with broker and builder advertisements and listings.
This product was designed to provide people with an online platform free of broker listings where they could browse potential accommodations and roommates in real-time and interact directly with them.
Nigeria has seen a rapid increase in urban development over the last two decades. The proportion of the country's population living in urban centers has increased phenomenally over the years. According to Okupe (2002), in the 1930s, only 7% of Nigerians lived in urban centers, but by 1970, 1980, and 1990, that number had risen to 20%, 27%, and 35%, respectively (Okupe, 2002).
Over 40% of Nigerians now live in urban centers of varying sizes. The incidence of this population in urban centers has created severe housing problems, resulting in overcrowding in inadequate dwellings, and in a situation in which 60% of Nigerians can be said to be “houseless persons” (FGN, 2019). Housing (Shelter) is unarguably one of the basic necessities of man. According to (Ebie, 2009) it used to rank second after food in the hierarchy of man's needs, but now it is ranked first and most important.
Using a survey, I asked questions that would help me obtain qualitative data, such as user pain points and goals. Due to some unavoidable constraints, I was unable to conduct one-on-one interviews, which is why I chose the survey option.
To ensure a seamless user experience, the user flow for both the room owner and searcher was carefully considered before creating the low-fidelity wireframe. The goal was to make sure that the users could easily navigate through the Roomy app and find the information they needed to complete their applications.
By prioritizing the users' needs, I was able to create a user-friendly interface that streamlined the application process.
I aimed to create a seamless roommate/flatmate sharing solution. To achieve this, I carefully crafted an information architecture that provides a clear and intuitive visual representation of the different sections and how they interconnect. This architecture serves as the foundation for the app's design and functionality, ensuring a smooth and effortless user experience.
The design process continued with the creation of low-fidelity wireframes. These helped to bring to life the process flow diagrams and establish the initial visual design direction. By sketching out the user journey, I was able to explore various ideas and concepts.
The low-fidelity wireframes provided a rough blueprint for the product, laying the foundation for the next stages of the design process.
TYPEFACE & color scheme
The product
testing the product
To ensure that the final product meets the needs and preferences of the target users, user testing was conducted to gather valuable feedback. The questions asked during the testing session aimed to evaluate the user experience and identify areas that needed improvement.
Check out the screenshot below to see the insightful responses collected from the users.
As I completed this project on Roomy, I reflected on the journey that led to creating a practical and user-friendly solution for roommate/flatmate sharing. The entire process, from research and ideation to wireframing and prototyping, was aimed at addressing the targets' needs and pain points. Throughout the project, I was reminded of the importance of human-centered design and the significance of testing and iteration in creating an exceptional user experience. I focused on the MVP while designing the app, even though numerous features could be incorporated, such as audio and video calls, online payments for apartments, and roommate task management.
While working on this project, I gained valuable insight into what people look for in an apartment or roommate.