KEY CONNECT
Unlocking a Better Living Experience: The Hidden Struggles of Apartment Residents
About: Simplifying apartment living technology to enhance tenant satisfaction and improve operational efficiency for property management firms by providing a secure, intuitive, and hassle-free experience.
Role: UX Designer and Team Lead
Team: Sarah Hollister, Vyy Nguyen, and Zawon Handy
Timeline: 3 weeks
Something as simple as getting in and out of your apartment building should not be a hassle when there is so much technology available.
PROBLEM
As a resident of multiple apartments, I have personally witnessed the frustrations and inefficiencies that residents face on a daily basis. From fumbling with keys to accessing communal spaces through convoluted systems, the current state of apartment living technology falls short of providing residents the seamless and intuitive experience that’s possible.
How might we improve the user experience for apartment residents when accessing and controlling their living spaces and communal amenities, making it more intuitive, secure, and hassle-free?
Leverage digital technology to simplify the apartment experience by implementing Key Connect
SOLUTION
Impact
By implementing Key Connect, property management firms can offer residents a modern and streamlined approach to accessing their living spaces and amenities, thereby enhancing tenant satisfaction and improving overall operational efficiency.
B2B solution targeting property management firms seeking to increase efficiency and enhance the resident experience through smart technology integration
WHO IS THIS APP FOR?
Key Connect
Property Management Firms
Residents
WHITE PAPER RESEARCH
“Smartphones are now being used like a digital ‘Swiss Army Knife,’ replacing possessions like watches, cameras, books, and even laptops.”
A report from HT Tech found that 54% of smartphone owners use their device in place of an alarm clock, 46% percent use it in place of a watch and 39% use their phone in place of a separate camera.
Why don’t we use this to help us tap into the market gap?
SURVEY RESEARCH
58% of participants currently live in apartment complexes.
65% of participants are open to adopting new smart technologies to enhance their living experience.
I conducted an online survey including 31 participants to better understand potential users' wants and needs in relation to their current living situation.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
The competition had NO app specifically designed for apartment complexes
While keeping user’s pain points in mind, I analyzed 4 of the most popular apps surrounding smart home devices and digital locks. I found that none of them were completely tailored to apartment complexes and their unique amenities.
Key Connect is strategically positioned to capitalize on growing demand for smart home solutions within the apartment living market.
Meet Jasmine White
28 years old
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Yoga Instructor
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Nursing Student
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28 years old
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Yoga Instructor
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Nursing Student
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28 years old - Yoga Instructor - Nursing Student - 28 years old - Yoga Instructor - Nursing Student -
Jasmine is a full time college student studying to be a nurse. She is also a part-time yoga instructor and loves fashion and tech. Since she teaches early in the morning and has late night study groups, she often leaves her apartment at odd hours. She heavily relies on the synchronicity of her Apple products within her day to day routine especially with her busy schedule!
Stepping into Jasmine’s shoes…
STORYBOARD
USER INTERVIEWS
My interviewees were frustrated searching for their keys and clicking through poorly designed apps to unlock their front door
AFFINITY DIAGRAM ANALYSIS
Listening to our users
After gathering 50+ data points from my interviews, I slowly let the data categorize themselves into four major clusters that I reflect in my ideation phase later.
Frustration with traditional keys and key fobs
Users felt concerns about misplacement, inconvenience, and the need to carry additional items. These sentiments underscore the opportunity for Key Connect to offer a more seamless and user-friendly alternative to traditional access methods.
Usability issues with existing smart lock applications
Users mentioned cumbersome navigation, excessive button clicks, and a lack of customization options. These insights informed Key Connect's design decisions, emphasizing the importance of an intuitive and streamlined user interface.
Security concerns with traditional keys
Key Connect addresses these concerns by offering robust digital lock technology with advanced encryption and authentication features, enhancing both convenience and security for users.
Desire for convenience
Above all, users expressed a strong desire for convenience and simplicity in accessing their apartments and communal amenities. Key Connect's emphasis on intuitive design, customizable features, and seamless integration aligns closely with these user preferences, aiming to provide a frictionless experience for residents.
Initial Ideas + A New Direction
SKETCH + COLLABORATION
I led my team through a collaborative brainstorming session filled with sketching and discussion. Each team member sketched their vision of the app based on the user flow and feature requirements. These sketches were then shared and discussed within the team, allowing for a wide variety of perspectives and ideas to emerge. Through constructive critique and feedback, our team refined our sketches and identified common themes and patterns to ultimately create our final sketch!
3 Major Improvements to the Design
TESTING + IMROVEMENTS
The testing process began with the creation of interactive lo-fi prototypes and were then presented to a diverse group of users including apartment residents. Testing sessions were conducted in-person and remotely, allowing our team to observe user behavior and gather feedback in real-time. Throughout the refinement process, we prioritized key improvements based on the severity of user issues and the potential impact on the user experience.
FINAL PROTOTYPE
Key Connect unlocks a seamless living experience for Jasmine and users alike
Follow along as Jasmine syncs her new apartment to the app, adds the nearest pool to her favorites, and unlocks the gate.
Syncing Key Connect to apartment complex
FINAL DESIGNS + TASK FLOWS
Adding the pool to favorites
Unlocking the pool door
What I Learned and What I’d Do Differently Next Time
Dependence on Hardware Integration
One critical realization I had was the dependency of our app on the proper hardware infrastructure within apartment complexes. Without the necessary technology integration, our app's functionality would be severely limited. I have now learned to recognize the importance of collaborating closely with property management firms and ensuring seamless integration with existing hardware systems.
User-Centric Focus
While personal experiences can provide valuable insights, it is important not to let your personal pain points drive the focus of the app. Since I have my personal qualms about my apartment living experience, I had to put in a conscious effort to put the user first when designing the app.
Advancing Forward
In the future, I’d like to explore additional features to enhance the apps functionality. This would include integrating compatibility with other smart home devices like Amazon Alexa light bulbs and Ring security cameras to the app.
A Better Living Experience, Unlocked.
Learn More About Me
I’m a Professional Figure Skater and Coach Turned UX/UI Designer.