Dwellify
A cross-platform experience for home remodeling
Dwellify is a new interior design tool for homeowners, offering interactive access to renovation and design experts. The responsive platform is available as a website, Android app, and iOS app, supporting users through ideation, material selection, and project management from anywhere.
MY ROLE
Senior Designer — Visual Design, Interaction Design, Stress Testing/QA, Prototyping
Form & Function
Starting with a completed brand (done by another team at Critical Mass) and creating this product from zero, I had to envision Dwellify from both the initial front end landing pages and the transition into conversion. I had to strike the balance between visually engaging inspiration and organized functionality, all while maintaining a consistent look and feel throughout.
Dwellify approached the Critical Mass team with a clear goal: To make the home remodeling process easier for homeowners and use their years of traditional contracting experience to bring the process into a more modern age.
The parent company behind Dwellify was already established in key markets across the United states and together we established the primary pain points of home renovation for their primary audiences.
*Stats based on average percentages in a key market of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Remodeling Pain Points
DURATION
52%
Homeowners found the length of time to complete the project was overwhelming
BUDGET
70%
Homeowners paid more than expected on their remodel, with 21% spending more than the original estimate
DELAYS
41%
Homeowners stated that the overall renovation process was delayed past the original time estimate
PROFESSIONAL HELP
49%
Homeowners regret not hiring a professional to facilitate their remodeling project
Digital Design System
Since the brand was created completely new by the Critical Mass team, this meant the design system needed to be built from scratch. Although the initial branding was extensive, it still didn’t yet consider detail digital applications, so I was tasked with exploring and documenting the foundation of Dwellify in a fully usable and flexible form.
This design system was expanded to include additional color palette usage and considerations for accessible color combinations, full component libraries, and in-depth documentation for every single element created. The process of creating this design system had to be a fluid endeavor, as we continued to find enhancements and iterated on share patterns as more of the product was designed and delivered.
User Flow & Requirements
Designing the experience from zero meant identifying the exact touch points a user would interact with the product and how they would transition from major milestones throughout the process. This broke down to four main segments, each with their own unique requirements and important strategic selling points. I had to insert opportunities where Dwellify users could interact and explore in a dynamic way, to ensure they felt involved and secure for the duration of the home renovation process.
Many users are new to Dwellify, perhaps drawn to them by organic research, through word of mouth, or from familiarity with the brand or the established home renovation company behind them. These discovery pages serve to quickly inform potential customers of the Dwellify Approach and what they offer, including examples of previous successful projects and the ways they differ from traditional home renovation processes.
Discovery & Inspiration
Once the user has become sufficiently curious and informed about Dwellify’s offering, the process continues while also collecting information about their current space and preferences for their future space. This includes gathering pre-requisite data while the user decides between different interior design styles or even takes a quiz to get their best match. At the end of this step, the user is presented with tangible pre-determined packages with clear pricing and details for the included finishes and materials.
Onboarding
After package select, then comes the more creative and exciting part of the onboarding process: Customization. This part of the process tested my skills by spanning across multiple platforms and methods, utilizing mobile device AR for real-time measurements, full bleed material selection, and even breaking into the physical touch points with the design box that is sent to customers once their package is complete.
Selection & Planning
The renovation process can be quite lengthy, rife with backordered materials and construction delays. The user’s active project dashboard allows them to be in constant communication with the team working on their renovation with options for financing, message threads for different issues, and visualization of their project’s progress. This also stretched my platform skills by having to create the portal view for contractors, ensuring they also have what they need to complete the customer’s dream home.
Project Coordination
Custom Illustration Library
I also had the opportunity to flex my illustration muscles for this project, creating an entire library of graphics that could be used for both illustrative purposes and informational interfaces. I created a complete collection of illustrations and included an extensive breakdown to follow in the design system for any further graphic creation in the future.
