Industry
Proptech
Client
Babilonia
Creation of Babilonia, the hub for homes
The first real estate platform in LATAM that connects people with the best available buying/ renting opportunities in the market with AI.
As product owner and UX designer I led the development of the Babilonia’s Web and Mobile app design for my team in Peru, New York and Ukraine. I utilized strategy frameworks, defined key metrics, pitched the ideas, and ensured the delivery and fulfillment of product’s features.
Roles
UX Lead Product Owner Client Coordinator Researcher
Duration
12/2018 - 03/2021
Practices
Management of Stakeholders Human-Centered Design Methods Research Reports User Personas Definition Information Architecture User Flow Maps Wireframing Usability testing
About
The idea of Babilonia arose from an understanding of the challenges people face when searching for a new home or office space in LATAM. The goal was to create a user-friendly and simple platform that with technology assists every sector of real estate and streamlines the home buying/ renting process.
Research & Ideation
Problem
Real estate platforms are outdated and hard-to-use. There is no consistency on published listings. Buyers mistrust most online portals and prefer to work face-to-face.
Solution
User Personas
Branding
For the second stage of the project, I was in charge of supervising the building of the brand identity, tone of voice, brand personality, messaging, and iconography for both the app and the website with our contributors in New York. My role included to effectively communicate our desires and expectations with the brand’s visual identity and ensure the creation of an attractive brand that connects with people and portrays reliability. The final delivery was the Brand Identity Guidelines document.
Design Criteria
The design criteria was crafted to excite and engage users. Our aim was to achieve a vibrant, reliable, and consistent look-and-feel that conveys trust, professionalism, and dynamism. The design elements are carefully curated to evoke a sense of enthusiasm and captivation, making the brand identity visually appealing and memorable.
Product Development
The last stage included the mobile and web app development with our development team based in Ukraine.
Main Challenges
Navigating the development of Babilonia presented a series of hurdles that demanded strategic solutions. These challenges encompassed aspects from feature prioritization to harmonizing the UX design with development constraints, and fostering effective collaboration within the team.
1. Prioritization of features
- Balancing V1 features and budget constraints - Allocating features to V1/V2/V3 through data- driven decisions
2. Balancing UX Design & Dev. Constraints
- Navigating technical constraints with the development team - Coordinating with internal and external teams for AI integration
3. Remote Team Collaboration
- Managing time zone and cultural differences - Communication and collaboration strategies
Each challenge was met with a tailored approach, ensuring the continued progress and success of Babilonia's development journey.
Project Oversight and Evaluation
My role extended to overseeing and review all processes outlined in the development roadmap This encompassed tasks related to both UX and UI for the iOS and Android apps, as well as the web platform. My responsibilities ranged from ensuring the meeting of project deliverables to running product testing and providing feedback.
Key Takeaways
Taking part of the the development of this intricate product was a steep learning curve, offering insights into the crucial aspects of effective communication and efficient resource allocation. The following takeaways encapsulate insights for further understanding.
1. Focus on building an MVP
It's important to channel efforts and resources into the features that can deliver the highest value for the users.
2. Involve engineering upfront
This helps to minimize and reduce any rework later on as an understanding of the technical limitations.
3. Foster adaptive Project Management
Embrace adjustments to timelines and priorities that are based on evolving requirements and unforeseen challenges.
4. Documentation and Knowledge Transfer
Especially when collaborating with remote teams, to maintain consistency and clarity in project implementation.