CO LIVING

Dialexa EDU

I am honored to be one of five students selected to represent UNT among a cohort of approximately 80 talented individuals.

Dialexa EDU, an esteemed 8-week program generously hosted and sponsored by Dialexa, an IBM company, has provided me with an incredible opportunity.

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Growing Pains

Over 2,000 people move to dallas weekly, and with the vast number of employees working from home at least once per week, today’s work environment looks far different than a few years ago.

As transplants move and make Dallas their home, deciding on housing presents new challenges. From home offices, coworking spaces, and proximity to the office, both locals and newcomers must carry these considerations as they settle into the new age of work.

Tasks

Analyze the current home search process in Dallas
Understand the different reasons people move to/within Dallas
Conceptualize a new type of co-working and living opportunity
Create a branding and style guide
Build out the digital interface for
the consumer

Action

Conduct interviews with
target users
Empathy mapping and product identification
Conduct market research and competitive analysis
Ideation (HMWs, Crazy 8s)
Feature prioritization
Create a branding and style guide
Product development

The Solution

CoLiving was founded on the principles of community, work-life balance, and flexible commitment, serving as a short-term solution for newcomers to Dallas seeking their forever home. We've revolutionized remote work by offering separate housing and workspace options, allowing residents to find their dream home at their own pace while enjoying a supportive community.

Landing page

Community progress bar

My Role

I took a leading role in conceptualizing, designing, and executing the logo and branding elements, ensuring they aligned seamlessly with our organization's identity and resonated effectively with our target audience.

I also maintained brand integrity and consistency across the user interface. This involved the implementation of our branding guidelines, ensuring that the color schemes, typography, and visual elements remained coherent throughout the UI design.

Presentation Day

Dialexa, an IBM Company Office

Research Phase

How might we identify problems within the current Dallas home search process?

Real People with Real Problems

I had the chance to talk to over 20 real Dallas residents about their lifestyle, work situations, and their home search experiences.

Eric

A single Dallas resident who is looking to move into a unique space and explore the city,
ideally on foot. He often works remote and would like to be able to unplug at the end of the day.

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Helen

An incoming Dallas resident
who wants to find her forever home with her boyfriend. Helen works from home, but is mostly seeking to meet new people and find new places.

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Competitive Analysis

To better understand the frustrations expressed in the interviews, I evaluated some commonly used apps in the home search process. While these apps offer valuable features and resources for home seekers, my analysis revealed several key areas where they fall short:

- School district rating

- Crime and safety information

- Community resources

- Exploration tools

These shortcomings leave the user feeling unsure in their choices long term. No matter which platform you use, additional research is required if you want the inside scoop.

Key Findings

From the interviews and market analysis there are three essential user needs that aren't being met:

Time

Time to be thorough enables you to carefully evaluate options, consider your needs, and make a well-informed decision for a home that suits your lifestyle.

Exploration

Exploring a new city allows
to discover neighborhoods, amenities, culture, and make informed decisions in finding their perfect home.

Confidence

Confidence in your choice is a vital aspect of the home search process, as it ensures that you are not just finding a house but a place where you can truly thrive.

Ideation Phase

How might we turn pain points into opportunities?

Crazy 8's

We conducted a few workshops to help us decide how to move forward with the information we had collected, but Crazy 8's yielded three crucial points.

1. Pop-Up Neighborhood

2. Flexible Community

3. Corporate Engagement

The idea of popup neighborhoods and creating a community surfaced as the most valuable product concept. This idea maximized our design space and captured a strong imagination.

Creation Phase

How might we empower prospective Dallas residents to find a home that prioritizes their lifestyles?

Finding Our Niche

When exploring possible solutions, we considered creating a more comprehensive home search app. However, we felt that it wouldn’t adequately address the client’s needs both short-term and long-term.

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These ideas brings community to the consumer, fosters flexibility, and allows new Dallas residents to take the time they need.

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(JM3) Community Providing the community rather than hunting for it. The users could either

(CS8) Digital Upload_ Give the user the ability to digitally upload there currently owned

(RB6) SIMS for Life_ Architect sets parameters and you can play around with features that

(RB2) VR Experience_ Have either pre recorded or live stream to be able to have a immersiv

Our feature prioritization workshop

These solutions fail to address the root needs of the consumer, but rather attempt to help in a fast paced decision.

Our Plan

To empower our residents, we've reimagined living spaces beyond the norm by creating distinct zones for living and work, promoting a clear work-life balance. Ground-floor businesses add convenience for residents and the community, while short-term rentals offer a temporary solution for those searching for their dream home.

Firefly blueprints for a building that has two main parts but is connected at the base. in

AI generated concept blueprint

Work space

Groundfloor businesses

Living space

Look and Feel

Our branding and style guide is carefully crafted to embody a lively, welcoming personality that makes our brand truly distinctive. Through a harmonious blend of colors, typography, and visual elements, it exudes a warm and inviting spirit, ensuring that our brand not only stands out but also resonates deeply with our audience.