Problem

In America there is no easy way to get furniture without dealing with the big box stores online & in store.

I launched Furnished Friends to make moving easier and more fulfilling by providing affordable furniture and a platform that connects newcomers to local communities. By simplifying home setup and fostering connections, Furnished Friends helps people feel at home faster and build supportive networks.

“How could Furnished Friends help you find affordable furniture while making connections in your new community?”

Solution

Furniture, Friends, Community

Research

Diving Deeper into the Problem

User Interviews + Competitive Analysis

Create a comparison matrix highlighting strengths and weaknesses.

Identify gaps Furnished Friends can capitalize on, such as personalized recommendations or hosting local meet-up events for buyers and sellers.

Additionally, given the strong competition in the productivity space, I decided to analyze the four most popular websites to identify trends and areas for potential improvement.

Analysis (affinity maps)

Overwhelmed with insights, I needed to start prioritizing to form a strategy.

Jumped into secondary research to form my product strategy and experience.

Insights

Interviewees highlighted the need for a convenient and trustworthy platform that offers affordable furniture options while fostering a sense of community.

They emphasized the importance of verified sellers, transparent pricing, and opportunities to connect with others locally.

HOW MIGHT WE…

How might we create a seamless and trustworthy furniture marketplace that provides affordable options while fostering community connections and ensuring the safety and satisfaction of our users?

The main Persona

“I want affordable furniture that fits my style and budget, but I need to trust the local seller.”

Site Map

User Flows

"User flows are the blueprint of a great user experience. They guide users seamlessly from start to finish, ensuring each interaction is intuitive, purposeful, and satisfying."

"Good design is about creating solutions that are not only functional but also meaningful and engaging for the people who use them."

Design

Initial Ideas & A New Direction

From my interviews, I learned that users want a platform offering affordable, stylish furniture while fostering trust and local connections. This inspired ideas like local meet-ups for furniture exchanges, a smart recommendation algorithm, verified listings for safety, and personal profiles.

Building on this feedback, Furnished Friends will evolve from a simple marketplace to a vibrant community hub. It will feature user stories, neighborhood design inspiration, and local meet-ups, creating a sustainable and engaging experience that connects people as they furnish their homes.

Version 1 (sketches)

Version 2

Version 3

Usability Test Scorecard

Previous Tests + Suggestions For Improvements

Major Improvements in my Design

Previous user tests revealed issues such as unclear sign-up steps, confusing navigation to events, and difficulties with search and filters. Improvements suggested included simplifying the sign-up process, enhancing filter and search functionality, and organizing event details with clearer navigation.

Major design updates addressed these concerns by streamlining user flow, enhancing visual consistency, and adding features like a product comparison tool. The search experience and event accessibility were significantly improved, making the interface more intuitive and user-friendly.

Final Version

Take away

Challenges + Interest

1. Challenges with Moving to a New Place

   People struggled to find affordable quality furniture from trustworthy sources when moving to a new city.

2. Desire for Community and Social Connection

   Users wanted a platform that helps them form social connections, not just complete furniture transactions.

3. Lack of Trusted Furniture Sources

   Trust issues with sellers and uncertainty about product quality were major concerns for users.

4. Need for Customization and Flexibility

   Users desired advanced search filters to tailor their furniture search by style, budget, and proximity.

5. Interest in Event-Based Furniture Exchanges

   Users were excited about the idea of community events for furniture swaps and social engagement.

Learnings / Key Takeaways

This project reinforced the importance of designing user flows that anticipate real-world behaviors and reduce friction. Empathy and early testing proved essential for spotting pain points and ensuring a smoother, user-centered journey.

In future projects, I’d prioritize earlier collaboration with cross-functional teams, gather user feedback at the wireframe stage, and set up a structured feedback loop for real-time adjustments. This would help make each step more intuitive and better aligned with user and business goals.

Outcome

I developed a website that makes it fun and simple to stay connected with others while finding furniture both locally and online.

Community Engagement: Users can easily connect with local sellers and buyers, join furniture-related events, and share design inspirations, creating a vibrant, interactive community around furniture discovery.

Simplified Search & Social Experience: The platform integrates social features like personalized recommendations based on connections and favorite styles, making the search process engaging and tailored to user preferences.

Convenient Local & Online Options: It provides a seamless experience for browsing and comparing furniture available both locally and online, enhancing convenience while maintaining a sense of community support.