Work
About
Baandy
Baandy
I was sat outside with a friend on a sunny London summer’s day in 2022; we were catching up after having not seen each other for a year or so. He mentioned that he had decided to start his own app: Baandy. I told him that I’d be willing to give him a hand when I had a few spare hours outside of work.
I was sat outside with a friend on a sunny London summer’s day in 2022; we were catching up after having not seen each other for a year or so. He mentioned that he had decided to start his own app: Baandy. I told him that I’d be willing to give him a hand when I had a few spare hours outside of work.
This was an exciting project to get involved with as it provided the opportunity to create something from scratch.
This was an exciting project to get involved with as it provided the opportunity to create something from scratch.
How did Baandy begin?
How did Baandy begin?
Like a number of products, Baandy was conceived due to the realities of post-covid society. Perhaps the most talked about change to our lives has been the increase in remote working.
Like a number of products, Baandy was conceived due to the realities of post-covid society. Perhaps the most talked about change to our lives has been the increase in remote working.
My friend had decided he wanted to create an app which would allow people to mutually swap their properties; the target audience were remote workers. They could travel and work in new places - facilitated via the home swap - rather than spending extortionate sums.
My friend had decided he wanted to create an app which would allow people to mutually swap their properties; the target audience were remote workers. They could travel and work in new places - facilitated via the home swap - rather than spending extortionate sums.
His focus on affordability came from our reality: as Londoners, our city had become extortionate for the majority.
His focus on affordability came from our reality: as Londoners, our city had become extortionate for the majority.
Headlines and artwork such as these are commonplace. The question is why?
Headlines and artwork such as these are commonplace. The question is why?
In an article in the investors chronicle is one potential explanation: ‘Short-term lets allow someone to maximise the value of a building by renting it out by the week to a pool of potential tenants, rather than month-by-month to the same tenant. The market is largely unregulated; legislation is coming for this sub-sector but, for now, many cite it as one of the causes of rising rents.’
In an article in the investors chronicle is one potential explanation: ‘Short-term lets allow someone to maximise the value of a building by renting it out by the week to a pool of potential tenants, rather than month-by-month to the same tenant. The market is largely unregulated; legislation is coming for this sub-sector but, for now, many cite it as one of the causes of rising rents.’
It became clear that Airbnb and short-term rentals were causing problems for both locals and travellers alike. Locals were being priced out of their own towns and cities, whilst travellers were less and less able to afford to go away.
It became clear that Airbnb and short-term rentals were causing problems for both locals and travellers alike. Locals were being priced out of their own towns and cities, whilst travellers were less and less able to afford to go away.
Listening to others
Listening to others
Although researching the demise of affordability can be done via academic papers and newspaper articles, I needed to speak to prospective users to understand why they would or wouldn’t be on board with this concept.
Although researching the demise of affordability can be done via academic papers and newspaper articles, I needed to speak to prospective users to understand why they would or wouldn’t be on board with this concept.
A social media presence was created (see above), in which I later added teaser mocks and my friend added various other marketing content. Hundreds of emails were sent to those who registered their interest. I began speaking to them.
A social media presence was created (see above), in which I later added teaser mocks and my friend added various other marketing content. Hundreds of emails were sent to those who registered their interest. I began speaking to them.
I learned plenty but here are 3 insights I’ll focus on:
For travellers, Airbnb was often the preferred means of accessing accommodation, however this was often due to having no better alternative rather than loving the product
The thing that people enjoyed the most on Airbnb was when they got to stay somewhere that they felt was homely - it gave them a sense of being a local and experiencing the area authentically
When quizzed on apps that they had used for pleasure, a lot of participants mentioned social media and dating apps
I learned plenty but here are 3 insights I’ll focus on:
For travellers, Airbnb was often the preferred means of accessing accommodation, however this was often due to having no better alternative rather than loving the product
The thing that people enjoyed the most on Airbnb was when they got to stay somewhere that they felt was homely - it gave them a sense of being a local and experiencing the area authentically
When quizzed on apps that they had used for pleasure, a lot of participants mentioned social media and dating apps
What would the user look like?
What would the user look like?
Before really delving into ideation I created a rough persona based off the conversations I’d had.
Before really delving into ideation I created a rough persona based off the conversations I’d had.
Putting pen to paper
Putting pen to paper
We wanted to encourage a profile creation that merged the best parts of housing and accommodation apps with the best part of social media and dating apps; ‘trust’ and ‘familiarity’ were two words we honed in on.
We wanted to encourage a profile creation that merged the best parts of housing and accommodation apps with the best part of social media and dating apps; ‘trust’ and ‘familiarity’ were two words we honed in on.
I began to put together a user flow detailing all the steps I envisaged the users going through in order to create a characterful, engaging profile.
I began to put together a user flow detailing all the steps I envisaged the users going through in order to create a characterful, engaging profile.
This was followed by very basic lo-fi wireframes.
This was followed by very basic lo-fi wireframes.
Next, were the ideas for the user’s profile page.
Next, were the ideas for the user’s profile page.
Continuous Discovery
Continuous Discovery
With the foundations of the concept now firmly rooted in the ground, I decided to consolidate a user feedback loop. A book I enjoyed is Continuous Discovery Habits by Teresa Torres; the idea is to continuously speak with users (both current and prospective) to extract insights that will inform your product. This could be a conversation about an idea, a usability test, an A/B test, brainstorming a problem or a solution etc. The key is that it never stops.
With the foundations of the concept now firmly rooted in the ground, I decided to consolidate a user feedback loop. A book I enjoyed is Continuous Discovery Habits by Teresa Torres; the idea is to continuously speak with users (both current and prospective) to extract insights that will inform your product. This could be a conversation about an idea, a usability test, an A/B test, brainstorming a problem or a solution etc. The key is that it never stops.
What did I learn from discussing the first wireframes?
What did I learn from discussing the first wireframes?
There was reluctance to even hypothetically engage without the prospect of insurance or safety assurances.
What inspired and excited people the most about the product was the idea of going to their favourite place for a minimal fee.
There was reluctance to even hypothetically engage without the prospect of insurance or safety assurances.
What inspired and excited people the most about the product was the idea of going to their favourite place for a minimal fee.
Coming to life
Coming to life
Whilst my friend was busy having discussions with potential insurance companies, I began creating a few mocks designed to help guide users to insurance options. At this stage, I had began to create interfaces which were more realistic.
Whilst my friend was busy having discussions with potential insurance companies, I began creating a few mocks designed to help guide users to insurance options. At this stage, I had began to create interfaces which were more realistic.
I did the same for a search functionality which would allow users to search for their location of choice.
I did the same for a search functionality which would allow users to search for their location of choice.
Investment and development
Investment and development
Our small team were relentlessly pitching to investors. They were ultimately successful on a number of occasions and the Baandy brand and vision began to grow.
Our small team were relentlessly pitching to investors. They were ultimately successful on a number of occasions and the Baandy brand and vision began to grow.
With investment secured, we were able to attract the services of a small development company who began to piece things together. We were able to begin testing their internal versions of the app.
With investment secured, we were able to attract the services of a small development company who began to piece things together. We were able to begin testing their internal versions of the app.
Full journeys
Full journeys
At this stage, the journeys were coming to life. Here are a few screens from the sign up:
At this stage, the journeys were coming to life. Here are a few screens from the sign up:
And the browsing and messaging experience:
And the browsing and messaging experience:
Ordinarily at this stage I would prototype the full experience but on this occasion it was more of a UX development exercise. The developers were constantly iterating on test environments and I was testing them.
Ordinarily at this stage I would prototype the full experience but on this occasion it was more of a UX development exercise. The developers were constantly iterating on test environments and I was testing them.
I tested the first ‘completed’ versions on 5 people (I would test on more but it was becoming increasingly difficult to recruit new people) - they expressed their enthusiasm for the concept and their eagerness to start benefitting from it.
I tested the first ‘completed’ versions on 5 people (I would test on more but it was becoming increasingly difficult to recruit new people) - they expressed their enthusiasm for the concept and their eagerness to start benefitting from it.
First release
First release
Baandy was released on the app store in February ‘24. As this is a project that I have been doing entirely in my spare time, it has been a challenge to put in the hours required and there have been many things we could have done differently. To be clear, the app is far from a finished product and I could name 100 improvements I would make to it, but I am proud of the work that we have put it in to get it to where it is today.
Baandy was released on the app store in February ‘24. As this is a project that I have been doing entirely in my spare time, it has been a challenge to put in the hours required and there have been many things we could have done differently. To be clear, the app is far from a finished product and I could name 100 improvements I would make to it, but I am proud of the work that we have put it in to get it to where it is today.
What’s next?
What’s next?
As the user base grows and I am able to test the product on more and more people, the areas which will need major improvement will become much clearer. Currently, there are 3 things I personally wish to work on:
As the user base grows and I am able to test the product on more and more people, the areas which will need major improvement will become much clearer. Currently, there are 3 things I personally wish to work on:
Conducting at least 50 interviews with users over the coming 6-12 months to continue gaining insights.
Brainstorm how we might be able to incorporate ‘communities’ within the product - in a similar vein to social media groups.
Work with the developers to smooth things out from a ‘UX debt’ standpoint: there are inconsistencies that need to be fixed.
Conducting at least 50 interviews with users over the coming 6-12 months to continue gaining insights.
Brainstorm how we might be able to incorporate ‘communities’ within the product - in a similar vein to social media groups.
Work with the developers to smooth things out from a ‘UX debt’ standpoint: there are inconsistencies that need to be fixed.
Check out some of my other projects below:
Check out some of my other projects below:
