No Place Like Home
I participated the 2015 San Francisco Developer Week Hackathon (my first hackathon ever) - and my team won 3rd place out of 100 teams and +550 participants. This event was "open," meaning participants could build whatever they wanted, or pick a challenge from a sponsor. Wanting to design for social good, I tackled SAP's challenge, and formed a team with 5 others who wanted to do the same.
Design Challenge: How might we strengthen renters’ rights by connecting renters with the City of San Francisco?
My role & timing: I was the only designer, responsible for our product's experience (mockups, wireframes, testing, visual design). As a team, we narrowed into the product's focus. This was started and completed within a 30 hour window.
Process: Research, personas, narrowing the focus, brainstorm, sketching, wireframing, visual design
- Hypothesis: If we provide renters with the value they can expect to negotiate for a buyout, and the information on how far that money can last them post-buyout, we will increase the confidence of renters and fairness of the buyout.
Result: Team "No Place Like Home" won 3rd place 100 teams and +550 participants. Coverage and mention in Huffington Post (huzzah!)
Onto the process!
Team No Place Like Home forms & begins research
The problem:
- Landlords are incentivised to evict rent-controlled tennants due to San Francisco's skyrocketing rents, and often try to do so through buyouts (they're cheaper and more efficient alternatives to the Ellis Act and owner move-in evictions)
- Landlords are known to use unsavory tactics to rid themselves of low-profit tennants: undercutting buyouts, threats, and misinformation
- Those facing buyouts lack information to understand if they're receiving a fair deal, and how this would impact their housing future. This leaves tennants scared, and unprepared for their future living situation and livelihood
Opportunity identified:
- Arm renters who are facing buyouts with information to help them understand if they're getting a good deal, and what they should keep in mind if they accept the buyout
- This won't solve the issues regarding buyouts & evictions in San Francisco, but takes a step in empowering renters with the confidence they need to make the right decision
After focusing the idea, we explored ways to design "No Place Like Home"
Scrappy wireframes were our BFFs.
dfas
Designs quickly made for developers
Next steps: The team bonded over this hackathon, and we decided to continuing to build and iterate the site and service. You can see it live,http://www.noplacelikehome.co , and we will continue to test and improve the site.
