Hyve

Roles


Team of three UX designers.

My contributions were project management, research, testing, branding, UI/interaction design and presentation.

A Student Residence Emphasising on Holistic Living.

We mapped out our chosen students' accommodation search process to pinpoint focus areas for the business.

Creating Hyve as a supportive, community-oriented student residence, aimed at nurturing personal development through
co-living experiences.

Gaining insights into the competitive environment


We analysed student accommodations in London to understand their offerings

UX Design

UI Design

UX Research

Wireframing

Design sytem

Brand Design

Duration 3 month

Introduction


Our team was fortunate to collaborate with Queen Mary University of London, assisting one of their entrepreneurs in the

QIncubator program. This initiative helps bring business ideas to fruition.

Design Challenge


Build a website advocating for student accommodations prioritising resident well-being, highlighting the benefits of

Sattvic Lifestyle and Ayurvedic Food Principles, focusing on holistic health and balance.

What is the current state of the market?

London grapples with a severe lack of affordable, quality housing for its vast population of over
400,000 university students.

The high demand has driven rents to unprecedented levels while compromising living standards,
ultimately impacting student welfare and academic success. To address this crisis, stakeholders such as
universities, private developers, and city planners are implementing strategic measures to increase the
availability of affordable purpose-built accommodations. However, the persistent challenge lies in offering
a range of suitable housing options at accessible price points.

We devised a positioning matrix to evaluate how the business could align with an emphasis on student health and well-being, aiming to uncover potential market gaps.

Our findings suggest that while certain accommodations provide some level of student

health support through fitness amenities, the focus on these aspects seems rather limited.

It appears to be more of a symbolic gesture rather than a holistic program aimed at

cultivating a lifestyle centered around health and well-being.

User research


With an understanding of the market background, we shifted our attention to gaining insights into the student population.

Employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, we conducted one-on-one interviews and distributed two surveys,

engaging a total of 31 participants.

What did we learn from it?


89% of respondents do not adhere to a specific diet and are unfamiliar with

the concept of Sattvic lifestyle and Ayurvedic food principles.

58% rated health and well-being as highly important, scoring it above 7 on
a scale from 1 to 10.

56% feel that they are not paying a fair price for their accommodation.

83% view activities as an effective means to socialise and make
new acquaintances.

The alignment of business goals with user needs revealed a disparity between our business concept and the demands

of the market.

Our original plan focused on addressing London's housing shortage and promoting health but included

unfamiliar concepts like Sattvic Lifestyle and Ayurvedic Principles. Students preferred flexibility over strict policies.

Refining the Concept


We went back to the drawing board, using our user research to create personas that helped us develop a more viable business concept.

Who are the Users?

LISA

"Budget conscious creative

Age: 18 years old
Course: BA (Hons) in Graphic Design
From: York, UK

She's a new freshman, feeling both nervous and excited about being in a new city. She's eager for the learning opportunities and freedom that come with university life.




Pain-points:
  • Fitting in socially
  • Academic hurdles

  • Integration into social circles


RAHUL

"Disciplined scholar"

Age: 26 years old
Course: MSc Software Engineering
From: New Delhi, India

Having just finished his degree, he is now seeking further studies in London. He's an avid sports enthusiast who enjoys cycling to university and includes meditation in his daily routine.




Pain-points:
  • Limited Healthy Food Choices
  • Few Sports Facilities Available

  • Meditation Area

DANNY

"Outgoing post grad"

Age: 24 years old
Course: MSc Business Information Technology
From: Berlin, Germany

Danny is nearing the end of his first year of his
Master’s program.
He enjoys activities that align with his interests
such as movies or games.
Health isn't a top priority for him; he tends to
go with the flow.




Pain-points:
  • Not much room for oneself
  • Juggling responsibilities

  • Challenges in lifestyle

Developing User Pathways

Considering the users' perspectives, we pondered their emotions in various situations, ultimately formulating their needs and goals.

Defining the problem

Problem Statement


Student housing should provide a

nurturing, community-driven

environment for personal growth

and well-being, fostering academic

success and lifelong skills.

Hypothesis

Creating a nurturing, community-driven

environment in student housing will

positively impact residents' personal

growth, academic achievement, and

lifelong skill development.

Ideation


we consider a student's journey from acceptance to finding their ideal housing and their process of fostering well-being

and community in their new living environment.


Userflow - Website and Student Portal

We opted to create two products: a website serving as the main entry point to the service, and an internal student portal

introduced later in the student journey, post-acceptance.

Standing out in the market


We crafted our brand to represent togetherness, well-being, and friendliness in a comforting and uncomplicated space,
reflecting our commitment to a community-driven home.

Design system

Website

Presentation

Next steps


  • More reviews of digital design output with stakeholder
  • More testing - digital product testing amongst more diverse group of students.

Reflections & Learnings


Taking initiative:

One important takeaway was

the necessity of maintaining

project momentum in a

collaborative setting, even amidst

unforeseen challenges.

This entailed making prompt

decisions regarding task assignments,

client interactions, and ensuring team

members were updated on progress

and future actions.

Implementing Kanban and standups:


Implementing a team Kanban board

significantly enhanced project efficiency

compared to previous methods,

as it enabled us to collectively visualise

and prioritise all tasks. Additionally,

daily stand-up meetings proved invaluable

in maintaining seamless communication,

particularly in remote work scenarios.

Embracing practicality and adaptability:

I gained confidence in delegating tasks

and focusing on the overarching

project objectives rather than getting

caught up in minor details.

This involved regularly reassessing

priorities and making necessary

adjustments, such as streamlining

certain processes or features.

2023 Saroj Pun. Crafted with dedication and love. Often updated.