Problem
Users found the task of purchasing a new home daunting. How could I redesign the site to better meet user needs?
Discovery
Who is this for?
Business Owners and Listing Agents: To promote their products and brand, eliminate manual content integration, increase traffic, and drive conversions.
Business Owners and Listing Agents: To promote their products and brand, eliminate manual content integration, increase traffic, and drive conversions.
Home Buyers: To find and learn about building or buying a new home, explore the area and communities where Hubble Homes builds, and easily connect with a realtor for home tours.
What do users really want?
After conducting interviews with business owners and marketers, I identified three key takeaways that guided my design decisions:
1. Integration: Users wanted MLS integration to search and save listings, ensuring they stay engaged and informed about current Hubble Homes listings.
2. Community: Hubble Home's target buyers, primarily women, wanted to feel like they were not just "shopping" for a home, but also for a community where their family could thrive.
3. Support: As many Hubble Home buyers were first-time homebuyers or builders, they needed quick and easy access to answers for their home buying questions.
Process
1. Stakeholder Interviews: I met with the client and conducted stakeholder interviews to gain insights into their goals and expectations.
2. User Journey Mapping: I created a user journey map to identify pain points and areas where improvements could be made.
3. Information Architecture: I developed a user-centric information architecture for the Hubble Homes website, ensuring easy navigation and content organization. Clear hierarchies and categorized sections such as home listings, floor plans, community information, and financing options were implemented.
4. Design Approval: To obtain client approval on the design direction, I created a "style tile" website. It showcased the features and styles I planned to incorporate into the site. Once the style tile was approved by the client, I proceeded with the detailed design phase.
View Original Prototype
View Original Prototype
Design
Armed with the research insights, information architecture, and style guide, I began the design phase. I crafted wireframes and prototypes to define the layout and interactions of key website components. Through iterative design processes, I refined the visual elements, ensuring that the website's aesthetics matched the editorial feel desired by the client.
Communities
Hubble Homes has developed various neighborhoods across the Boise area. To highlight the importance of community, I designed a user flow that prioritizes searching for homes by area and focuses on providing information about the community before delving into specific homes.
Hubble Homes has developed various neighborhoods across the Boise area. To highlight the importance of community, I designed a user flow that prioritizes searching for homes by area and focuses on providing information about the community before delving into specific homes.
Finding a home
A key component of the redesign was integrating a MLS database to showcase the current listings of Hubble Homes. Users can easily access and view the Hubble Homes that are currently on the market. Working closely with the client, I gained a deep understanding of the universal features of Hubble Homes, enabling me to develop a comprehensive search and filtering system. This allowed users to find the exact home they were looking for with ease.
A key component of the redesign was integrating a MLS database to showcase the current listings of Hubble Homes. Users can easily access and view the Hubble Homes that are currently on the market. Working closely with the client, I gained a deep understanding of the universal features of Hubble Homes, enabling me to develop a comprehensive search and filtering system. This allowed users to find the exact home they were looking for with ease.
Floor Plans
One of the unique aspects of Hubble Homes is the ability to customize a new home at an affordable price. In the floor plans section, the focus is on users who are interested in purchasing a new, custom home. Users can filter through different home plans and, upon selecting a specific plan, they are directed to a detailed page where they can explore various styles of that home.
Smart Search
To address the questions and concerns users had about purchasing a custom home, I implemented a helpful tool called Smart Search. This feature allows users to ask questions and search through frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the home buying process. By providing a readily accessible resource for information, users can easily find answers to their queries, making the process of purchasing a custom home smoother and more user-friendly.
To address the questions and concerns users had about purchasing a custom home, I implemented a helpful tool called Smart Search. This feature allows users to ask questions and search through frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the home buying process. By providing a readily accessible resource for information, users can easily find answers to their queries, making the process of purchasing a custom home smoother and more user-friendly.
Conclusion
The Hubble Homes website redesign project presented an opportunity to create a user-centric and visually appealing platform for homebuyers. As the sole UI/UX designer, I took on the responsibilities of conducting research, building the information architecture, developing a style guide, and designing the website. By leveraging research insights and collaborating with an account manager, I successfully created a website that combined an editorial feel with easy-to-use browsing functionalities. The end result was a website that not only made the home buying process seem effortless but also provided users with a delightful and engaging experience.
