The Problem
Moving is a complex life event that combines logistical planning, financial decision-making, and emotional transition. Despite the abundance of tools available, there is no single platform that brings all moving-related resources together in one place. As a result, people juggle multiple apps, websites, and lists—leading to missed tasks, fragmented information, and increased stress.
Research Goals
This research aimed to identify the most critical resources people rely on during a move and uncover opportunities to consolidate them into a centralized, trustworthy experience.
Methodology
I conducted qualitative interviews with friends and coworkers to explore real-world moving experiences.
- Remote interviews via Google Meet
- Detailed note-taking in lieu of recordings
- Synthesis through affinity mapping to identify patterns
- Detailed note-taking in lieu of recordings
- Synthesis through affinity mapping to identify patterns
Competitive Analysis
I evaluated platforms including PODS, U-Haul, and Moving.com to understand how existing solutions support the moving process.
While these tools address specific aspects of moving, none offer a comprehensive end-to-end experience—revealing an opportunity for a more holistic product.
Interview Findings
Several consistent themes emerged:
Logistical complexity — managing tasks and timing feels overwhelming
Financial pressure — costs are difficult to predict and track
Emotional transition — excitement mixed with stress or sadness
Resource gaps — reliance on scattered or informal guidance
Point of View Statement
People preparing for a move need a clear, resource-backed timeline because organizing tasks before, during, and after a move reduces uncertainty, prevents missed steps, and helps manage stress.
How Might We Statements
These statements guided ideation toward clarity, timing, and trust.
Actionable Insights from Synthesis
- Movers struggle most with knowing what to do and when
- Utilities, address changes, packing, and local services are top priorities
- Poor prioritization increases stress and leads to missed steps
- Users want guidance that feels structured, supportive, and trustworthy
Product Recommendations
- Phase-based timeline (pre-move, move-day, post-move)
- Actionable tasks supported by curated resources
- Reliable data sources to establish trust
- Progressive disclosure to reduce cognitive overload
User Personas
Personas were created based on behavioral patterns identified during research synthesis. Each represents distinct goals, motivations, and pain points related to moving.
Task Flows
Task flows illustrate how users navigate key features within HomeAhead, helping identify friction points and ensure clarity throughout the experience.
Budget Calculator Task Flow
Timeline Task Flow
Visual Design
Color Palette
The palette was chosen to evoke calm, trust, and organization—key emotional needs during a stressful life transition.
Moodboards
Moodboards explored multiple visual directions and emotional tones.
Style Guide
The style guide ensures visual consistency across typography, color, and UI components.
Wireframes
Low-Fidelity
Low-Fidelity
Low-fidelity wireframes were used to validate layout, information hierarchy, and core functionality without visual distraction. This phase allowed for rapid iteration and early identification of usability risks before committing to visual design.
Budget Calculator
The budget calculator was a core interaction designed to help movers estimate costs based on income, savings, and recurring expenses. Because budgeting is a high-cognitive-load task, I intentionally divided the flow into multiple screens with focused inputs.
As the wireframes evolved, it became clear that a wide range of financial variables needed to be accounted for. This reinforced the decision to use a progressive, step-by-step experience rather than a single form, reducing overwhelm and improving comprehension.
Task Checklist
Moving involves numerous time-sensitive tasks across different stages, increasing the likelihood of missed steps. To address this, I designed a stage-based checklist that adapted to where users were in the moving process.
A timeline and countdown were introduced to anchor tasks to specific deadlines, helping users prioritize actions and maintain a sense of progress.
High Fidelity
High-fidelity wireframes translated validated concepts into polished screens aligned with the final visual language and research insights.
Budget Calculator
As visual detail was added, user orientation became critical in the multi-step calculator. A progress indicator was introduced to communicate completion status and set clear expectations throughout the flow.
An early version included “Add More” and skip options to increase flexibility, but these features added complexity and led to incomplete inputs. Removing them simplified the experience and improved accuracy of budget estimates.
Timeline
The high-fidelity designs introduced branching paths based on whether users were moving into a rental or a purchased home. This distinction allowed the checklist and vendor recommendations to remain relevant to each scenario, reducing unnecessary tasks and increasing perceived personalization.
The high-fidelity designs introduced branching paths based on whether users were moving into a rental or a purchased home. This distinction allowed the checklist and vendor recommendations to remain relevant to each scenario, reducing unnecessary tasks and increasing perceived personalization.
Usability Testing
Usability testing surfaced points of confusion for first-time users, particularly around transitions and next steps. In response, I refined the flow with clearer guidance, supporting screens, and stronger visual cues.
These iterations significantly improved comprehension—especially within the budget calculator—and resulted in a more confident, guided user experience.
Budget Calculator
Timeline
Reflection
This project reinforced that moving is both a logistical and emotional experience. Research showed users don’t need more information—they need clarity around what to do and when, which directly informed the phase-based timeline and task checklist.
Working with a small, unrecorded interview sample required careful synthesis. With more time, I would further validate the solution through additional usability testing and explore personalization based on move type or location.
Overall, HomeAhead strengthened my ability to translate research insights into clear product decisions and communicate design rationale effectively.
