Good Living

Apartment Search for International Students: User-Centered, Accessible, and Co-Created

Ein Smartphone-Bildschirm fragt: "Do you want to live alone or in a WG live?". Darunter zwei graue Buttons mit weißer Schrift: "WG" und "Single", jeweils mit einem kleinen blauen Info-Symbol. Der Hintergrund zeigt unscharf ein Wohnzimmer mit Sofa, Tisch und Lampe. Die iPhone-Statusleiste oben ist sichtbar.

Ein Smartphone-Bildschirm zeigt die Startseite der "GoodLiving"-App. Ein stilisiertes Haus-Symbol mit Pfeil und der Schriftzug "GoodLiving" sind mittig platziert. Darunter befinden sich "Login" und "Register" Buttons. Der Hintergrund zeigt ein helles Wohnzimmer mit Sofa, Tisch, Stuhl und Fenstern. Die iPhone-Statusleiste oben zeigt Uhrzeit, WLAN und Akku.

Objective

International students often face major challenges when looking for housing in Germany. Good Living was developed to make this process more accessible through clear language, simple navigation, and targeted information that offers guidance and orientation from the start.

My role

UX and UI design within the team

Tools

Adobe XD · Miro · OpenProject · Illustrator · Krita

Method

Participatory software development with test participants from the target group

Target group

International students moving to Germany from abroad

My contribution

Good Living was built by a team, using participatory software development. So that it stays clear what I worked on, these are the steps I carried in the project.

Preparing and evaluating the cultural probes: questionnaires and diaries

Developing the user story with the test participants, acceptance criteria included

Defining the user flow, from login through to the favourites list

Wireframes for the screens of the app

Building the interactive prototype in Adobe XD

Running the user test with the target group and evaluating the feedback

Participatory Design

Participatory design actively involves users in the development process. Their experiences and perspectives directly shape the design, resulting in solutions that are closely aligned with real user needs.

Participatory Design

Target Group

The app is aimed at international students moving to Germany who are looking for housing. The focus is on users with limited language skills and little experience with the German housing market.

Target Group

The app is aimed at international students moving to Germany who are looking for housing. The focus is on users with limited language skills and little experience with the German housing market.

Cultural Probes

Using cultural probes such as questionnaires and diaries, we gathered insights into the daily lives and needs of the target group. This method helped uncover personal experiences and informed evidence-based design decisions.

Cultural Probes

User Story

During a co-creation workshop, we collaborated with our target audience to develop a detailed user story that reflects the entire apartment search journey. The insights gathered were directly integrated into the user-centered design process.

The user story with its acceptance criteria, developed in a session with the test participants. Click to enlarge.

Decision from it: an apartment is shown with exactly these details, a photo, rooms, size, location, price and a way to make contact.

User Flow

Design-entscheidungen

The user flow outlines all interactions within the app, from login to apartment selection, and defines the logical structure. It serves as the foundation for a seamless and intuitive user experience.

Ein gelber Notizzettel mit einer blauen Reißzwecke zeigt eine User Story-Vorlage: "As a <role> I want <goal> so that <benefit>". Daneben steht "Apartments". Darunter sind Akzeptanzkriterien aufgelistet: "List apartments", "Show single or share", "Type: hostel, private", "Price", "Pictures", "Contact", "Authorization". Ein Beispielsatz darunter lautet: "As a new international student I want an application that lists apartments so that it's easier to find apartments." Weitere Sätze beschreiben die Schwierigkeiten und Bedürfnisse eines internationalen Studenten bei der Wohnungssuche.

The user flow of the app, from login through to the favourites list. Click to enlarge.

Decision from it: every filter question comes before the first list of apartments, so shared flat or single, price range, rent with or without utilities plus an explanation, furnished, type and district. After that the student only sees matching apartments.

Prototype

An interactive prototype was created using Adobe XD, covering the full process from initial browsing to apartment details. The app is deliberately designed in English to reduce language barriers. Technical terms are explained in-app, and small info icons enhance clarity without overwhelming the interface. Features like filtering options, a favorites list, and intuitive navigation make the housing search efficient and easy to follow.

Prototype

The prototype shown in a device mockup.

User Testing

The prototype was tested in a controlled environment with members of the target group to assess usability and clarity. Feedback confirmed the intuitive nature of the interface and identified opportunities for improvement in individual elements such as icon clarity and swipe gestures. These insights were incorporated directly into the next design iteration, further strengthening the user-centered focus.

User Testing

“The app is easy to use because it is built in a straightforward way.”

Feedback from a participant in the user test, translated from German

Conclusion

The user test with people from the target group settled two things. The structure held up: participants found the app easy to use because it is built in a straightforward way. Two details did not hold up. The test showed room for improvement in individual icons and in the swipe gesture, which are exactly the two places where the app tried to work without words. The next step would therefore be to label the icons and to demonstrate the swipe once on the first run instead of assuming it.

What I took away is how much the conversations with the target group changed the result. Running the app in English was not a design decision, it was a survey finding: international students speak English first and learn German later. The same goes for explaining rent with and without utilities, and for the note that unfurnished apartments often have no kitchen. Those points came out of the conversations, not out of the draft.

Ein Smartphone-Bildschirm zeigt eine Definition von "Wohngemeinschaft" (WG) als Wohnform, bei der mehrere Personen ein Haus oder eine Wohnung teilen und Kosten aufteilen, typischerweise mit gemeinsamen Bereichen. Die Definition in weißer Schrift erscheint in einem dunklen Overlay-Fenster mit einem Schließen-Button.

Ein Smartphone-Bildschirm zeigt drei Apartmentvorschläge mit Bildern und Details: Anzahl der Zimmer, Größe, Lage und Preis. Die Überschrift lautet "These apartments might suit you." Die erste Option hat 3 Zimmer im Zentrum für 850€. Die zweite hat 2 Zimmer in der Innenstadt für 700€. Die dritte hat 1 Zimmer im Zentrum für 300€.

Ein Smartphone-Bildschirm zeigt Details für ein "Apartment Downtown" mit einem Bild des Innenhofs. Informationen umfassen 2 Zimmer, 70 qm, Lage Innenstadt, Preis 900€ und eine abgeschnittene Beschreibung. Unten Aufforderung zum Wischen nach rechts bei Gefallen.

Ein Smartphone-Bildschirm zeigt die "Your Favorites"-Seite einer App mit einem Stern-Gesicht-Symbol oben. Darunter ist eine favorisierte Wohnung mit Bild und Details: 2 Zimmer, 70 qm, Innenstadt, 700€, mit einem Sprechblasensymbol daneben.

Impressum