SpaceWyze - Online Lodging Marketplace

Project Overview:

SpaceWyze is an online lodging marketplace that connects people looking for unique and interesting spaces for events and activities with hosts who have spaces available for rent. The platform offers a wide variety of spaces, from photo studios and meeting rooms to backyards and bars, and allows guests to book these spaces on an hourly basis. With a peer-owned global network of spaces, SpaceWyze provides users with access to unique locations around the world, offering a new and exciting way to host personal and professional events.

The platform is designed with both hosts and guests in mind, offering a simple and user-friendly interface for booking and managing spaces. Hosts can easily list their spaces on the platform, set their availability, and earn additional income simply by opening their doors. Guests can browse and book spaces, view detailed descriptions and photos, and communicate with hosts directly through the platform.

SpaceWyze is more than just an online booking platform, it’s a way to bring people together and celebrate in inspiring locations around the globe. With a focus on user experience and user engagement, SpaceWyze is the perfect solution for anyone looking to host an event or activity in a unique and memorable space. Whether you’re an individual looking to rent a space for a special occasion, or a business looking to host a team-building event, SpaceWyze has something for everyone.

Platform:

The SpaceWyze platform is available on both web and mobile, offering a seamless user experience across devices.

Challenges:

The main challenges in designing the user experience and user interface of SpaceWyze included creating a platform that is easy to use for both hosts and guests and ensuring that all critical information is easily accessible to users. Additionally, the platform must be visually appealing, engaging, and easy to navigate, focusing on highlighting the unique and exciting spaces available. Balancing the needs of both hosts and guests, and ensuring that all vital information is easily accessible and actionable, were also critical challenges in the design process.

My Contribution:

As the product manager and designer, my contribution to the SpaceWyze project involved conducting user research, developing wireframes and prototypes, creating visual designs, and iterating on the design based on user feedback. I was responsible for defining the product vision and strategy, working with the development team to ensure that the designs were feasible and implemented properly, and leading the design team to deliver an outstanding user experience.

Scope:

The scope of the SpaceWyze project involved the design and development of both the mobile app and the web platform, as well as the creation of the dashboard system for managing vendors and customers. The project also included developing various features, such as search and filter, booking and payment, and messaging and communication between hosts and guests. Additionally, the project involved designing and implementing the visual identity and branding for SpaceWyze, including logo design, color scheme, and typography.

User Research/Personas

User Personas:

  1. Sarah, a young professional: Sarah is a freelance photographer in her mid-twenties, and she is always on the lookout for unique and interesting spaces to use as a backdrop for her photo shoots. She values convenience and ease of use, and is attracted to platforms that make it simple to find and book spaces.
  2. Tom, a small business owner: Tom is a small business owner in his forties, and he is always looking for flexible and affordable office spaces for his growing team. He values the ability to easily find and book office spaces on an hourly basis, and is attracted to platforms that offer a range of options and flexible pricing.

These user personas provide a comprehensive understanding of the needs and desires of the target users for the SpaceWyze platform, and serve as a guide for future design and development efforts. By focusing on the needs and goals of Sarah and Tom, the SpaceWyze platform can be designed and developed to meet the needs of a wide range of guests and hosts, and to provide a seamless and intuitive user experience.

User Journey/Cases:

Based on user interviews and user personas, the following are some of the common user journeys and use cases for the SpaceWyze platform:

  1. Guest Searching for a Unique Space: A guest is searching for a unique and interesting space to hold a personal or professional event, such as a photo shoot or meeting. They open the SpaceWyze app or platform, use the search and filter features to find a space that fits their criteria, view photos and details of the space, and make a booking.
  2. Host Listing a Space: A host is looking to list their unique and interesting space on the SpaceWyze platform to earn additional income. They open the SpaceWyze dashboard system, create a listing for their space, upload photos and details about the space, set their availability and pricing, and start accepting bookings.
  3. Guest Making a Booking: A guest has found a space they would like to book on the SpaceWyze platform. They view the details of the space, check the availability and pricing, and make a booking. The guest receives a confirmation of their booking, and can communicate with the host through the messaging feature if they have any questions or special requests.
  4. Host Managing Bookings: A host is managing their bookings on the SpaceWyze dashboard system. They can view the details of their bookings, see the status of their bookings, and communicate with guests if necessary. The host can also update the availability and pricing of their space, and make any necessary updates to their listing.

These user journeys and use cases provide a comprehensive understanding of the user experience and interface of the SpaceWyze platform, and serve as a guide for future design and development efforts.

Modules: I am describing here just few modules from the system

  1. Search & Discover: Allows users to search and discover spaces that match their specific needs and preferences, such as location, size, availability, and amenities.
  2. Booking & Scheduling: Allows users to book spaces, view availability, and schedule events in a quick and easy way.
  3. Payment & Security: Offers a secure and seamless payment system, allowing users to make payments and track their transactions.
  4. Customer Support: Provides responsive customer support to assist users with any questions or issues related to their bookings.
  5. Space Management: Allows space owners to manage their listings, update availability, and monitor their bookings from a central dashboard.
  6. Communication & Collaboration: Offers an integrated messaging system for users to communicate with space owners and other users, and collaborate on the details of their events.
  7. Reviews & Feedback: Provides a platform for users to share their experiences and feedback on spaces, and for space owners to receive and respond to feedback.
  8. Analytics & Insights: Offers data and insights to space owners to help them understand their bookings and improve their offerings.
  9. Marketing & Promotion: Allows space owners to market their spaces and reach a wider audience, and for SpaceWyze to promote and showcase spaces to potential users.

Key Takeaways & Learnings:

  • Improved User Experience: Through conducting user research, including user interviews and creating user personas, I was able to design a platform that met the specific needs and expectations of our target users. This resulted in a more user-friendly and enjoyable experience for all users.
  • Increased User Satisfaction: By designing an intuitive and streamlined user journey, I helped users find and book spaces with ease, resulting in increased user satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Enhanced Brand Image: The design of a visually appealing and cohesive brand identity helped establish SpaceWyze as a reputable and trustworthy brand in the online lodging marketplace.
  • Better Conversion Rates: The implementation of user-centered design principles and testing of key features helped improve conversion rates, driving more bookings and revenue for SpaceWyze.
  • Collaborative Process: Working closely with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and marketing, I was able to create a well-rounded product that addressed both user and business needs.
  • Continued Learning: Through conducting user testing, analyzing data and feedback, and staying up-to-date with industry trends, I was able to continuously improve the platform and design better user experiences in the future.