The problem
Moving is stressful. Picking the wrong neighborhood is worse.
Listings tell you about the house, not the area. Everyone I interviewed knew a few neighborhood names, but little about the schools, safety or what living there is really like.
The solution
Every neighborhood, fully reviewed.
Start with the city
Search any city for demographics, what it’s known for and trending neighborhoods.
Schools nearby
Full details on schools in the district, for families like Amanda’s.
Safety at a glance
A clear safety rating and crime data for every neighborhood.
The process
How I got there
Interviews with 5 people who had moved recently or planned to within 6 months, plus a competitive analysis.
An affinity map, two personas (Amanda and Bobby) and three How-Might-We questions.
Sketches to wireframes to hi-fi, cutting content when less was more. A rooftop-and-heartbeat logo in teal and green.
5 participants created an account, searched a city and booked a property tour.
Results
Account creation needed no changes. Testers asked for a walk score and an agent’s phone number, so I added both.
After learning about a neighborhood, users can browse local listings and book a tour with an agent in a few taps.
Reflection
I designed this while hunting for my own place in Chicago. Biggest lesson: lean on your teammates, ask your mentor and think outside the box.
