Designify
The tool that makes interior design visualization fast and easy
Product Experience
Problem Space
Problem Statement
Homeowners and renters need an easy, fast, and cost-effective solution to interior design because the average person requires visualization to design their home and interior designers effectively require a lengthy and expensive process.
Problem Background
This problem space originated from a friend of mine who recently bought a house and struggled with decorating it. People want the space they call home, whether a house or an apartment to feel comfortable and showcase a part of themselves through decor. Many people however are not well informed on interior design and have a hard time figuring out what pieces go well in their home. While hiring an interior designer is an option, it is a lengthy process to work with an interior designer, and also quite expensive, something unaffordable for the average person.
Most people will choose the option of decorating their living space themselves. Usually, they’ll purchase a decor piece they find appealing at a retail location or online, place an order or purchase it to bring home, assemble it, and then determine the placement within their living space… only to realize that the decor is too big, too small, the lighting or other factors don’t complement the decor, etc. This in turn either leads to the individual returning the piece and repeating the whole process again, or keeping the decor piece but being unsatisfied with it. This is often because most people are not informed on interior design and have a hard time imagining the piece in the actual location they want it without the blueprints or demo models that a professional interior designer can provide.
People should be able to easily visualize and design their living spaces hassle-free without having to return multiple items, be unsatisfied with their living space decor, or having to spend a fortune on an interior designer.
Research Insights
According to survey data and 4 user interviews, this is a pain point that individuals have, and no product adequately solves the problem. Users claim
- “I don’t know anything about interior design but I want my apartment to look nice”
- “Interior designers are way too expensive”
- “I had to return a centrepiece 4 times before I found the perfect one”
- “The hardest thing is imagining the decor piece in my own house, its sooo hard”
Landing on the Solution
Based on our target users’ pain points, we knew we wanted to build a tool that allows users to easily visualize how prospective decor pieces from various retailers would look in their living space. The tool should allow them to add and remove decor items into their virtual living space to see what decor pieces they like together. The solution will center around having the freedom to add, remove, and design decor within their current living space. The solution will allow users to easily upload their current living space so that they don’t have to design the floor plan, just design the decor within the living space.
Our target demographic is users who recently purchased a house/condo, rented a new apartment, or are looking to redecorate their current living space. They are likely to be middle to high computer confidence and likely in their 20s-40s. However, no one will be excluded from using the product, and it will be designed to be accessible to as many people as possible.
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Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Nishee Patel
As a product manager, I learned that it is important to spend a great deal of time on the problem space. It is important to break down a large problem into small pieces, define the problem space well and focus on one singular problem.
I also learned various skills such as data collecting, data analysis and effective surveying methods during my research and data gathering phase. I improved my ability to conduct user interviews and ask questions that alleviate assumptions, and biases, and get the user's true responses.
Overall, this was a phenomenal learning experience!
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.