How we designed and built the future of real estate transactions
- Platforms:
- Responsive Web
- Deliverables:
- Research, UI, UX, Product Strategy, Design System, Development
pocket approached us with early sketches and a basic idea for a platform that would improve the buying and selling experience. After conducting workshops with pocket and speaking with potential customers, we mapped out the end to end experience to identify areas for improvement. We then ideated on solutions, produced wireframes, and conducted usability tests to refine our design.
Our focus during the design process was to create a premium experience that felt lightweight and intuitive. To achieve this, we used neutral shades of white and black, minimized interactions, and limited scrolling. By streamlining the platform, we were able to create a user-friendly experience that met the needs of all our customers.
What would bidding look like in all the stages of the process, from pre-auction to post? What data should we surface on a home’s listing page? How often should it be updated? We addressed all these questions through multiple rounds of low-fidelity designs.
We went through several iterations of rough sketches of the dashboard and bidding box to test all possible scenarios and understand what information to show the user at each stage. Working this out in low fidelity meant we could quickly iterate without creating complex UI that would be difficult to change.
The design system for pocket was one of the most ambitious we’ve built at Goji. It was the first time we fully embraced the use of Atomic Design principles.
In practice, this meant creating the small pieces (atoms) first, then creating larger pieces (molecules) next. For example, we would create an icon and a simple input field, then create a fully fleshed-out form field component. With many building blocks complete, we created organisms like the entire listing page module!
Approaching the design process this way meant that we could make modifications within the design system that worked across all designs, saving us hours of production time (even during development).
During development, we integrated with CoreLogic’s Neighborhood Scout and RealQuest API in order to get up to date real estate data and automate most of the listing process. This data also provided our customers with accurate, real-time data on neighborhood demographics, crime, and schools. We also developed complex charts with price history data and a robust bidding platform that transparently shares its bidding data to everyone.
In the user dashboard, we implemented a complex series of steps that trigger one after the other as the user progresses in their buying or selling journey. This is especially powerful after an auction has ended; the platform automatically generates a purchase and sale agreement contract with all its fields filled in, then sends it to the buyers and sellers to be signed via Docusign. No middlemen necessary.
In the end, pocket is more than just a real estate platform—it’s a streamlined experience that puts control back in the hands of buyers and sellers. By leveraging data and design, we created a platform that’s easy to use, transparent, and effective at every stage of the buying and selling process. From the seamless bidding system to the automated contract generation, pocket brings simplicity to an often complex journey, setting a new standard for the real estate experience.