In a bustling city like Lagos, finding an ideal roommate can be a daunting and often unsafe task for millennials. As a UX designer, I embarked on a mission to create a mobile product experience that not only appeals to this tech-savvy audience but also ensures their safety throughout the roommate search process. Through thorough research, competitor analysis, user surveys, and the creation of personas, I crafted a solution that simplifies the process and establishes trust within the Lagos roommate community. Let's delve into the journey of designing a mobile product that addresses the needs of our target audience.

Our research revealed that millennials in Lagos often face challenges when it comes to finding trustworthy roommates. Safety concerns, compatibility issues, and limited reliable resources were among the top obstacles they encountered. We aimed to address these pain points and create an intuitive mobile product that would simplify the roommate search process.

Our target audience comprises tech-savvy millennials residing in Lagos, Nigeria, who are seeking safe and reliable roommate options. These individuals value convenience, trust, and a seamless user experience in their daily interactions with mobile apps.

Young adults who are looking for apartments in Lagos and need roommates to split the rent and financial burden with

Young adults who have an apartment in Lagos and need roommates to share the rent and financial burden with

To gain insights and identify gaps in the existing market, I conducted an in-depth competitor analysis. I explored popular roommate search platforms and identified their strengths and weaknesses. Most of the direct competitors of this product are on social media; including Instagram and Telegram. Some of them are:

Coflatmate

Connect.roomie.flattie.lag

Shetura

Understanding the users' pain points and desires was crucial in creating a compelling mobile product. I designed and distributed surveys to gather real user data. The survey responses provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by millennials when searching for roommates in Lagos. Safety concerns, ease of use, and personalized search options emerged as the primary concerns.

The survey was answered by 12 people;

91.7% of them have stayed with a roommate before

41.7% of them currently stay with  a roommate

70% of them are female

66.7% of them are within the age range of 26-32

66.7% of them said they are willing to use a mobile app to find a roommate

90% of the respondents did not verify their roommate before living with them

Most of the challenges faced by the respondents are - Less privacy, splitting bills, lack of responsibility ownership

Most of the respondents said they would love to have a roommate who is responsible, honest, working-class, cooperative, legitimate, and friendly.

Most of the respondents do not have good experiences with their past or current roommate

To empathize with our users, I created two personas that represented the target audience.

Amanda Ojo is a 27-year-old investment banker whose landlord increased her rent and is currently looking for someone to split with. She enjoys staying up late, partying, reading good books, and hanging out with her friends. She moved to Lagos in 2017, and this will be her first time staying with a roommate.

Sotonye Hart is a 24-year-old content creator who grew up in Port Harcourt. She recently got a new job and needs to move to Lagos because her work requires her to come in three times a week. She is an ambivert, does not have many friends in Lagos, and loves having intellectual conversations. She had stayed with a roommate while in school, but it was a very bad experience.

Over 300 million people use dating apps worldwide, with about 20 million paying for premium features

The dating app market made $5.61 billion in revenue in 2021, almost $3 billion made by Match Group

I took these facts into consideration and decided to look at a few dating apps and get inspiration from there because trust, friendship, and familiarity need to be built first, based on the fact that these are people who may potentially start staying together. So I decided to add the swipe feature from dating apps and also have a community-like feature either in-app or on Telegram.

With a clear understanding of our target audience, we translated their needs into intuitive wireframes and user flows. By simplifying the user journey, we aimed to create a seamless and efficient experience for both searching and connecting with potential roommates.

With a clear understanding of our target audience, competitive landscape, and user insights, I began designing a mobile product that would revolutionize the roommate search experience in Lagos. The key pillars of the design approach were simplicity, personalization, and safety.

Simplified User Journey: The user journey was streamlined to make it effortless for users to find their ideal roommate. Clear and intuitive navigation, minimal form-filling, and a visually appealing interface were prioritized to create a frictionless experience.

Personalized Search: To cater to individual preferences, I implemented a comprehensive set of search filters. Users could specify their desired location, budget, lifestyle preferences, and other key factors when searching for roommates. This ensured that the matches presented were highly relevant to each user's unique requirements.

Robust Safety Measures: To address safety concerns, stringent verification processes were integrated into the mobile product. Users were required to provide valid identification documents, and a review system allowed for honest feedback and ratings. Additionally, a secure messaging system with built-in privacy features ensured that users could communicate safely within the platform.

Real-Time Chat and Collaboration: To facilitate effective communication between potential roommates, we implemented a real-time chat feature within the app. This allowed users to connect, discuss preferences, and even arrange meetings or property viewings. By providing a seamless and secure chat platform, we ensured a smooth collaboration process.

To measure the success of the mobile product, I established key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with our goals. These metrics included user engagement, successful roommate matches, user satisfaction ratings, and the number of reported safety incidents. By tracking these metrics, we could gauge the effectiveness of the product and make iterative improvements.

To ensure the sustainability of the app, I devised a monetization strategy. Connection fee (a percentage of the total amount to be paid). Rent will be paid through the app in order for the connection fee to be collected and to facilitate secure payment transactions between roommates.

Designing this was an exciting journey. It gave me insight into the accommodation issues among young people in Lagos. By focusing on user-centric design principles, I was able to create a solution that curbs the roommate search process for millennials. This case study demonstrates the power of UX design in solving real-life challenges and creating meaningful connections in our fast-paced world.