Role | UX design, Research, Ideation, Branding, Prototyping
‍Timeline | May - Aug 2021 (12 weeks)
Tools | Adobe XD, Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Keynote
Mentor | Brian Boyl, Myles Larson

Oneroof

Context

In cities like San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, job opportunities are abundant, especially in tech, creative, and startup roles, which are often contract-based. With high living costs and limited savings, committing to a yearly lease can be risky for young professionals. Co-living offers a lower-risk way to get a foothold in the city and start building a life there. However, sharing a home with strangers comes with common challenges, as housemates often have different habits, schedules, and expectations.

Young professionals aged 25–35 held the largest market share in the co-living sector in 2024, driven by affordability and networking opportunities.

Emergen Research

The co-living market for working professionals is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.4% from 2025 to 2030.

Grand View Research

Working professionals accounted for 55.2% of co-living space usage in 2024

market.us

Global Co-Living Space market size was valued at $8.2 billion in 2024, and is forecasted to hit $28.7 billion by 2033, growing at a robust CAGR of 14.7%.

Market Intel

The Problem

Different Habits and Schedules
Different Expectations
Avoiding Difficult Conversations
Lack of Respect for Personal Space
A design challenge emerged....

How might we design a system that helps housemates set clear yet flexible guidelines, communicate openly, and manage shared spaces respectfully without awkward confrontations?

User Goals

Goal 1
‍Flexible Living Guidelines
To allow housemates to set shared rules & adjust them based on feedback, preventing misunderstandings.
Goal 2
‍Aligned Expectations
To ensure everyone agrees on chores, bills, and routines, reducing potential friction.
Goal 3
Open Communication
To make it easy to address issues & have honest conversations before small problems escalate.
Goal 4
Respecting Boundaries
To maintain personal space & privacy, avoiding discomfort or tension in shared living spaces.

The Solution

Oneroof is a smart co-living system for young professionals in big cities who want to save money without sacrificing peace of mind at home. Our goal is to provide a respectful co-living experience by preventing common roommate conflicts, making it easy to set clear ground rules, communicate efficiently, and ensure fairness among housemates.

App

Dozone app is designed to be used at the beginning phase of the crafting journey where users look for inspiration to start any DIY project, reserve a space to work, and complete the demo before accessing the workshop.

Key Features

Get inspired

Users can choose any zone they want and browse ongoing DIY projects that other Doers are working on.

‍Collaborate

Users can see the details of the projects and choose to participate if they want. Once they participate in the projects, users are allowed to access and share resources with other Doers.

Book the Zone

After deciding what projects they want to participate in, users can book a Zone where they can work on the project. For example, if they're participating in "Leather Card Holder" project, they can book 'Leatherzone'. Users can choose either 'on-site' or 'on-the-go' to access the workshop.

Complete Demo & Receive a Code

Users will be asked to complete the demos on how to use the equipment at the specific zone prior to the visit. Once they complete watching the demos, they'll be receiving a validations code which they can scan to check in and out of the zone and rent out tools.

Autonomous Workshop

Autonomous workshop is one of the main parts of Dozone system which provides an on-demand space for DIY projects. There are different types of workshops including Leatherzone, Woodzone, Ceramiczone, Metalzone, etc.

Tool Vending Machine

Measuring Success

To measure the success of the platform and its future iterations, I’d track:
• Reservation Completion Time
• Reservation Success Rate
• NPS (Net Promoter Score)
• Project Competition Rate (% of completed projects from all the 'participated' projects)
• Retention Overtime
• Engagement

Design System

Design Process

Challenges

01
Conflicting Daily Routines and Habits
Housemates often have different routines and habits, which can create tension and disrupt the flow of daily life. Conflicting schedules for cooking, cleaning, or using shared spaces can lead to frustration and occasional arguments.
02
Misaligned Expectations About Living Together
When housemates have varying expectations about chores, bills, or social interactions, misunderstandings can arise. These differences can create frustration and make it difficult to maintain harmony in the household.
03
Difficulty Addressing Communication Issues
People have different ways of expressing themselves, and it’s often hard to confront issues directly. Avoiding these conversations can build up tension, leaving problems unresolved and straining relationships.
04
Lack of Respect for Personal Space
Respecting personal space is essential in shared living environments. When boundaries aren’t honored, housemates may feel uncomfortable, stressed, or invaded, which can harm relationships and reduce comfort at home.

Common Issues

‍ Thermostat wars
Bringing guests over without notice
Not paying rent on time
Taking long showers in a shared bathroom
Being irresponsible with household chores
Being loud in the middle of the night

Magic Moments

01
Wouldn't it be nice if it was easy to set guidelines that provide clear expectations among the roommates prior to moving in?
02
Wouldn't it be nice if those guidelines are flexible enough for roommates to update them based on each other's opinions?
03
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to openly
and efficiently communicate with roommates
while respecting their private time?
04
Wouldn't it be nice if a device or app could be
Mr. Annoying who says the right things, such as asking
to lower the volume of music at midnight?

User Goals

01
Aligned Expectations and Seamless Onboarding
The system ensures everyone is on the same page about house rules, minimizing friction from the start. It streamlines the onboarding process, from completing paperwork to paying the security deposit, all within the app.
02
Reinforced and Evolving House Rules
The system maintains harmony by automatically reminding housemates of agreed rules before small issues escalate, acting as a friendly “Mr. Annoying.” At the same time, it allows rules to evolve through anonymous voting, feedback, and updates, keeping shared living fair, adaptable, and reasonable for everyone.
03
Efficient Communication and Respectful Boundaries
The system enables housemates to share updates and notes without oversharing personal details or being flooded with notifications. It fosters clear, efficient communication while respecting everyone’s privacy and personal space.
04
Real-Time Awareness and Transparency
The system keeps everyone in sync by providing visibility into shared spaces. Users can check if the bathroom is occupied, see whether guests are over, post or view updates on the digital “fridge,” and monitor the thermostat, all within the app. This transparency minimizes misunderstandings and keeps daily life running smoothly.

Competitive Analysis

Positioning Matrix

Target Market

Demographic
• 25-35 years old / Working Professionals
• Makers, Creatives, Artists, Designers
• Looking for creative outlets
• Wants to learn new crafting skills
• Wants to be surrounded by the creative environment 
• Wants to collaborate with other creatives
• Like: crafting, exploring, self-learning
• Dislikes: binge shopping, over-priced goods

Design Criteria

Mission Statement

Oneroof is a smart co-living system for young professionals in big cities who want to save money without sacrificing peace of mind at home. Our goal is to provide a respectful co-living experience by preventing common roommate conflicts, making it easy to set clear ground rules, communicate efficiently, and ensure fairness among housemates.

Interview

• “When I was looking for a crafting space, I was considering how far it was located and how much it costs. I couldn’t find the one I wanted. They were either too pricy or too far away.”
• “I wish I had a garage. If then, I’d buy some tools and equipment there.”
• “Opening hours are really important for me since I work 9-5. I prefer 24-hour access.” 
• “I wish applying process was easier like just submitting the form rather than calling them or writing an email from the scratch.”
• “It was intimidating to use the equipment for the first time. Especially the loud ones.” 
• “It’s inspiring to be working around people who already know what they are doing.“
• “I wish there was a price clearly written on the website so I don’t have to call them to ask.”

Summarized Findings

User Persona

Based on the research, I created a user persona to synthesize and communicate the findings. This strategy helped me to empathize with the target users and keep in mind their pain points and motivations to design digital products that are tailored to their needs and wants.

User Daily Flow

Ecosystem

MUSCOW Chart

Information Architecture Planning

Information Architecture

Structure Map

Guide Words

Mood Board

Final Solution

Design System

Process

User Goals

Competitive Analysis

Positioning Matrix

Target Market

View Process
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