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Roomin
UX Designer
UX Researcher
4 Months
4 Designers
My Contributions in this group project ⭐️
Led generative user interviews to uncover trust and transparency gaps in the roommate search process, identifying themes that shaped key features.
Designed and prototyped core product screens—including the Compatibility Score, Home, and Review pages—to address user concerns around safety and clarity.
Conducted 6 usability testing sessions with both users and UX experts, translating feedback into clear, high-impact design iterations.
Synthesized research insights into design decisions that reframed the roommate matching experience from a risky guesswork process to a trust-first interaction.
The quote that shaped our approach:
"It feels like I’m gambling with my safety every time I message a new roommate." - Research Participant
The problem with the current roommate search process
Finding a roommate online feels more like a leap of faith than a logical decision, especially when profiles are vague, and trust is an afterthought.
The challenge my team and I decided to address
Create a digital solution that considers the trust, safety, and privacy concerns users face when searching for roommates online.
Compatibility Score
Helps users understand how well they align before committing, no guesswork, just clear expectations up front.
Detailed Filter System
Gives users control to match based on what really matters day-to-day, like sleep, cleaning, and guest habits to name a few.
Real Roommate Reviews
Profiles are just one side of the story, this feature lets users learn from real lived experiences.
Report System
A quiet way to flag red flags. If something feels off, users can take action without confrontation.
Context
Instead of assuming what users wanted, we talked to them, dug into online complaints, and looked at what other platforms got wrong.
Secondary Research
Analyzed articles, product threads & community forums
To support and expand our understanding, we analyzed six sources including blog posts, online articles, and community threads.
User Interviews
12 User Interviews done in person & remote
We conducted 1:1 interviews with three screened participants who had experience searching for and living with roommates.
Competitor Analysis
App store reviews & used competitor apps
We reviewed several roommate and rental platforms (e.g., Roomies, Kijiji, Facebook Groups) to identify what features were missing or poorly executed.
From our user interviews we found that:
The findings below summarize the key insights my team and I gathered through usability interviews, highlighting pain points and areas for improvement in the current roommate search process.
87% were worried about trusting a roommate
Users said they were worried about trusting a roommate. Profiles felt vague and the process felt risky.
User Quote: I need to know I can trust the person I’m living with, but the apps don’t give enough info.
75% wanted stronger verification
Many users wanted a better verification system to feel more confident that the person behind the profile was real.
User Quote: I just want to know the person is real before I even start a conversation.
63% found the process too tedious
Users found the roommate search process too tedious and often just chose whoever was available.
User Quote: It takes so long to find someone decent, I usually just settle for whoever replies first.
75% wanted advanced lifestyle filters
Users wanted lifestyle-based filters to match on real-life habits like sleep, guests, and cleaning preferences.
User Quote: I want to know if we have similar habits and interests so I can tell if we’ll actually get along.
From analyzing our competitors we found:
The Competitors we reviewed included Kijiji, roomster, spareroom, roomies, facebook marketplace and roomi, and from reading reviews and actually using the app ourselves, we found the issues and gaps where we can stand out.
Lack of verification
No Real Verification
Most platforms didn’t offer any way to confirm identity, making it easy for fake or incomplete profiles to slip through.
Filters Were Too Basic
Search filters were limited to location and price, with no way to filter by lifestyle or habits that actually affect compatibility.
Barriers to communicate
Messaging Felt Restricted
Some platforms made it difficult to reach out or required payment just to talk, creating friction and slowing down the process.
Scams & Frauds
Scams Were Surprisingly Common
Unverified listings and unmoderated profiles led to frequent reports of fraud, fake accounts, and misleading information.
Where Roomin adds value:
Based on our research findings, we identified four areas where Roomin can meaningfully improve the roommate search experience.
Verified profiles help users feel more confident in who they’re talking to
Lifestyle-based filters allow for better compatibility beyond rent and location
Open messaging makes it easier to connect without unnecessary barriers
Reporting tools offer a safer way to flag suspicious or uncomfortable behavior
These features are designed to give users more control, clarity, and peace of mind—addressing the trust and transparency issues we uncovered early in our process.
Problem Statement
Before ideating, my team and I created the problem statement below to guide our direction and ground our design in real user needs.
How might we we help people find compatible roommates through a solution that fosters trust and transparency, so they feel more in control of their living situation and create a comfortable home environment?
Clustering similar ideas and themes for organization
We pulled insights from user interviews, secondary research, and competitor analysis. Instead of looking at them in isolation, we grouped similar points together into themes. This helped us make sense of the noise, spot patterns, and understand what users were truly struggling with. The goal was to find focus and clarity before jumping into solutions.
Deciding which ideas should be prioritized for initial release
To decide which features to move forward with, we ran a SWOT analysis as a team. This helped us evaluate each idea not just by how valuable it was to users, but also by how feasible it would be to build. By mapping out strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, we were able to prioritize features that struck the right balance between impact and practicality for our initial release.
User Persona
Dani represents the student who’s tired of mismatched roommates and just wants someone he can vibe with.
Our users journey when looking for a roommate.
Dani’s journey is like what most users go through, feeling cautious, curious, and unsure when reaching out to potential roommates.
Individuals searching for roommates often question if they’re really compatible, feel skeptical during chats, and get overwhelmed by unclear communication. It all points to one thing: the early search phase is full of trust issues and confusion.
Prioritized Features For Initial Release
Based on the user research we conducted, along with insights from our persona and journey map, my team and I decided to focus on four key features to improve the roommate search experience.
Review System
Verification System
Compatibility Score
Advanced Filters
Wireframes designs of our initial ideas
Using insights from our research, we created low-fidelity wireframes to address the biggest user pain points. The goal was to reduce frustration, build trust, and make the search process feel more personalized and straightforward. This helped us test core ideas early and stay focused on what users actually needed.
Different methods we used to gather feedback on initial design
To better understand how users experienced our design and where they faced challenges, my team and I used the following usability testing methods:
5 Second Test
First Reactions Test
We ran a 5-second test with 5 users to see what stood out right away. This helped us understand if the interface clearly communicated its purpose at first glance and built initial trust.
Ideal User Journey
Walking Through the Ideal Journey
We asked 5 users to complete a key task using the prototype. This helped us identify points of confusion or hesitation, so we could improve the flow and make the experience feel more intuitive.
Expert Feedback
Leveraging Expert Eyes
We shared our design with senior designers from Service Ontario and IBM to gather expert feedback and usability-related issues.
Industry Experts From:
Findings from testing our wireframe design
The findings below summarize the key insights my team and I gathered through usability testing, highlighting areas for improvement based on real user interaction and feedback.
Home page feels OVERWHELMING
5-Second Test Finding
4/5 participants found the homepage overwhelming and hard to navigate. This told us we needed to simplify the layout and focus on the most important content to reduce cognitive load.
Feels SIMILAR to a Dating App
5-Second Test Finding
3/5 participants thought the design was for a dating app. The option to add photos and videos gave off the wrong impression, so we knew we had to better communicate the app’s true purpose.
Compatibility score design is VAGUE
User Journey Test Finding
5/5 participants didn’t understand how the score was calculated or what it meant. This showed us that without context, the feature lost its value, and we needed to make it more transparent.
Filters have TOO MANY options
User Journey Test Finding
3/5 participants participants felt overwhelmed by the number of filter options and ended up skipping them entirely. This signaled the need to simplify the filtering system and make it more intuitive to use.
Ratings add unnecessary COMPLEXITY
Expert Feedback Finding
2/3 industry experts said the rating system could create bias and add complexity. This made us question if it truly supported a fair and safe experience.
Industry Experts From:
Minimal Home Page Layout
The home screen was simplified to show only key information like rent, location, and a short bio — improving clarity and reducing visual overload.
Before
Dropdown Filters with Progressive Disclosure
Filters are now collapsed by default, allowing users to expand only what’s relevant. This prevents information overload and supports focused decision-making.
Before
Removed Ratings, Kept Reviews
Ratings were removed to reduce complexity and avoid surface-level bias. Reviews remain to provide richer, more nuanced feedback.
Before
Compatibility Score Redesigned with Context
The score was enlarged for visibility and paired with an “Explore More” button. This allows users to understand exactly how their match was calculated.
Before
So did Roomin actually fix the trust and transparency problem?
Safe to say IT DID! — and here’s the data to back it up
Compatibility Score
Compatibility Score Simplifies Decision-Making
6/6 experts believe the compatibility score simplifies the process of finding compatible roommates.
Expert Quote: The compatibility score makes it easier to feel confident about choosing the right roommate.
Review System
Reviews Boost Transparency
87.5% participants said the review system increases transparency.
Participant Quote: Seeing reviews gives me much more reassurance. It helps me feel like I’m making a smarter, safer choice.
Expert Feedback
Expert Validation of Trust & Transparency Goals
5/6 experts agreed that our solution addresses our initial approach towards increasing trust & transparency in the roommate search process.
Expert Quote: I’ve used Facebook groups in the past, but if this was an option, I’d definitely give it a try.
Measuring Product Success Moving Forward
Here’s how success will be measured moving forward:
Trust score
Shows how much users trust the reviews, profiles, and compatibility info. If it feels unclear, they’re less likely to engage.
Match success rate over time
Tracks how often users message or save someone after viewing a profile. Higher rates mean the match feels right.
Design System and Mood Board
Moodboard
Key Takeaways
This project taught me how much better ideas get with feedback. Keeping users at the center helped things feel more clear and grounded. Working within constraints wasn’t always easy, but it pushed us to focus on what really mattered. The final design got great feedback, felt more trustworthy, and even earned top marks — which was a nice bonus.