Emo
Property renting, uncomplicated.
My Role:
Sole designer
Scope:
Mobile Design, Real Estate, Still Under Development!
Outcome:
To give everyday people a simple, reliable way to find and explore real properties around them.
Timeline:
July - Present day
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PROBLEM STATEMENT
Problem Statement
Most property platforms are full of fake or unverified listings, leading to property fraud and lost money. Renters and buyers struggle to trust if a property actually exists, while listers lack a simple way to prove their property is real.
Goal
Design a simple property app that eliminates fake listings by requiring physical location checks during onboarding, ensuring seekers only view real, trustworthy homes while listers have an effortless way to verify their properties.
RESEARCH
Understanding Property Search and Listing Friction
To understand why people get scammed or struggle to find real rentals, we looked at how seekers search for homes and how listers post properties. We focused on the main friction points: fake photos, lack of location proof, and communication breaking down on outside messaging apps.
We evaluated the physical steps listers take when uploading a property. The goal was to design an easy, guided flow where a lister must take photos while standing at the actual building, proving the property exists without slowing down the signup process.
Key Findings on Verification and Communication
High Scam Risks: Without physical verification, seekers routinely face fake listings, duplicate photos, and upfront payment scams.
Off-App Communication Breaches: Moving conversations off-platform to apps like WhatsApp leaves buyers unprotected and increases the risk of fraud.
USER JOURNEY
From Natural Search to Verified Booking
Flexible Natural Search: Seekers describe the home they want in plain language (e.g., "3 bed house near schools under K3,500"), and the app understands their exact preferences without tedious filters.
Verified Property Review: Seekers check key property details and look for the physical "Checked" badge to know the home actually exists.
Protected In-App Messaging: Both parties chat directly inside the app to arrange details, while off-app contact details like phone numbers are safely blocked to prevent scams.
Secure Handoff & Quick Identity Check: After a quick face scan to verify real identities, payments are held safely until the seeker arrives and confirms the deal.
DESIGN SYSTEM
EMO’s design system uses warm colors, friendly typography, and clean components to make property discovery and verification feel simple, modern, and trustworthy across both mobile and web. Typography: SF Pro Rounded was chosen to give the app a friendly, approachable feel while keeping property details clear and easy to read. Color System: Orange & soft lavender were used as core brand colors to build a warm, inviting feel.
Components
Wireframes
UI Design
Typography
Color System
DESIGN IMPACT & REFLECTION
Predicted Design Impact
Eliminate Fake Listings: Requiring listers to take photos while physically standing at the property should remove fake uploads and duplicate listings entirely.
Increase User Trust: The clear "Checked" badge gives seekers complete confidence that listed properties actually exist before reaching out.
Safer In App Deals: Blocking off app contact details kept all communications inside the platform, protecting seekers from outside payment scams.
