Home Base App
Concept project developed for General Assembly UX curriculum
First-time homeownership brings unfamiliar decisions — from minor repairs to major upgrades. New homeowners often spend hours researching, but still struggle to answer: Is this project worth doing now? Should I DIY or hire someone? Where do I even start?
The Story
This was a solo concept project where I led research, strategy, testing, and prototype development end-to-end. My goal was to create a fast, decision-focused experience that could support a broad range of homeowners — not just one user type.
Initial research included interviews and a focus group, but the group was too narrow demographically. I expanded the study to include single homeowners, which revealed a more universal insight: Homeowners didn’t need instructions — they needed help deciding what to pursue in the first place.
Design priorities became speed, relevance, and decision support:
- A scorecard UI showing cost, time, and DIY difficulty
- A card-sorting feature to quickly save or dismiss planning tips
- A lightweight interface that encouraged exploration without requiring setup
I prioritized features that met actual user goals: browsing, saving tips, and gauging project fit — not step-by-step tutorials.
The Result
- Built a working InVision prototype and conducted three rounds of testing
- Identified key UX issues (unclear swipe cues, weak save-state visibility, and navigation friction)
- Iterated based on feedback to improve interaction flow and onboarding clarity
- Maintained the quick-glance scorecard and card-sorting design, which testers found engaging and easy to use
This project reinforced the value of diverse user research and strategic flexibility. By questioning early assumptions and shifting focus midstream, I uncovered a more relevant problem and designed a solution that met users where they were. It also reminded me that good UX often means fewer features, not more — just the right ones, done well.
