SCHOOL PROJECT / CLIENT PROJECT / WEBSITE CONCEPT
A website for Wojciechowska Nieruchomości, focused on broadening the client base and facilitating the communication process.
MAY 2023
4 WEEKS
GROUP OF 4
UX RESEARCHER /
UX/UI DESIGNER
FIGMA / WORDPRESS / CSS / JAVASCRIPT
NO TIME FOR READING?
PROJECT BACKGROUND
For our final 2nd-semester exam in Multimedia Design, my team and I were tasked with finding a real client and developing a digital solution tailored to their needs. We chose Natalia Wojciechowska, founder of Wojciechowska Nieruchomości, a real estate agency in Szczecin, Poland.
After years in a corporate setting, Natalia launched her agency in 2017, relying solely on personal referrals. While this approach has secured a loyal client base, it also limited her growth and visibility in the real estate market. Without a website or digital presence, reaching new clients and competing with larger firmswas a challenge. Potential customers had no way to find her services unless they had a direct connection, and communication was limited to phone calls and emails, making the process less efficient.
The goal was to create an intuitive, professional, and user-friendly website that not only established her online presence but also expanded her reach, improved communication, and streamlined client interactions. By designing a visually appealing and functional platform, we aimed to help Natalia transition into the digital market, ensuring long-term growth, credibility, and a stronger competitive position in the real estate industry.
The ultimate challenge was to transform Wojciechowska Nieruchomości from a referral-based business into a visible and accessible real estate agency.
We want to provide Wojciechowska Nieruchomości with a digital solution that puts the start-up on the real estate market with the aim to broaden the client base and facilitate the communication process.
DESIGN PROCESS
DESK RESEARCH / ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS
One-on-one interviews (patterns)
We started with desk research to understand our client’s business, the real estate market in Poland, and industry best practices. This included analyzing competitors’ websites to identify common UX patterns and innovative features, such as embedded contact forms in listings and PDF offer downloads.
A one-on-one interview with our client, Natalia Wojciechowska, revealed her primary challenge: a lack of online presence, limiting her ability to reach new clients. She emphasized the need for a user-friendly platform with filtering options, property submission, and a professional yet minimalistic aesthetic.
To gain user insights, we conducted interviews with potential customers, which highlighted key trust factors in real estate websites: clear navigation, detailed property descriptions, filtering tools, and strong visual branding. Users also valued agency credibility indicators like ratings, years of experience, and completed transactions.
These findings shaped our approach, ensuring our solution directly addressed both business and user needs.
BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS / VALUE PROPOSITION CANVAS / USER PERSONA / EXPERIENCE MAPPING / CARD SORTING / HOW MIGTH WE'S / LIST OF VALUES
Experience mapping (renting a flat)
Using tools like the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas, we analyzed Wojciechowska Nieruchomości’s operations and customer findings strategies. We found that trust, and professional service were crucial for attracting clients, reinforcing the need for a user-friendly, credibility-building website.
To understand the target audience, we developed three user personas, based on age and life stage, ensuring the website’s functionality and design met diverse expectations. Through Experience Mapping, we examined how people find and interact with real estate agencies, confirming that trust and easy access to an agent were top priorities.
Open Card Sorting uncovered patterns in how users categorize information, highlighting the need to separate rent, buy, and sell categories and emphasizing the importance of agent contact. The "How Might We" method helped generate creative solutions, shaping key website features like filters, contact forms, customer reviews, and a map view.
Finally, we defined six core values - trust, reliability, personal approach, passion, quality, and communication - to guide the website’s design and messaging.
These insights shaped our problem-solving approach, ensuring our solution met both business and customer needs effectively.
SKETCHING / CRAZY 8'S / DOT VOTING / USER FLOW / USER FLOW TESTING / MOODBOARD / STYLE TILE / DESIGN SYSTEM
Design system
With core problems identified, we moved into the design phase, focusing on creating a visually engaging, highly functional website. We started by generating ideas, using the Crazy 8 sketching method, and then refining them with Dot Voting, ensuring we prioritized effective and user-friendly features.
One of the biggest challenges was building trust - Polish users tend to be skeptical of real estate agents, relying heavily on experience and reviews. To address this, we integrated Natalia’s ratings, testimonials, and professional background into key areas of the website, ensuring credibility was visible at every step of the user journey.
To examine how users naturally moved through the site and ensure seamless navigation, we created a user flow and tested it with our users. The results highlighted the need for immediate and effortless contact options, leading us to implement contact forms prominently across the platform.
To solidify the site’s visual identity, we developed a moodboard based on Natalia’s branding. This evolved into a Style Tile, defining typography, colors, and UI elements that would create a modern yet approachable aesthetic.
By aligning design decisions with user needs, we ensured that the website is not just aesthetically refined but intuitive, trustworthy, and built for real users.
User flow testing (changes)
LOW FIDELITY FRAMES / LOW FIDELITY USABILITY TESTING / HIGH FIDELITY PROTOTYPE / HIGH FIDELITY USABILITY TESTING / CONTENT CREATION
Content creation
With a clear direction, we focused on building a functional Figma prototype and refining it through usability testing. Our goal was to ensure a seamless, trust-building experience that meets user needs.
Starting with low-fidelity wireframes, we prioritized usability before visuals, applying UX laws and design principles to enhance interaction. We optimized button placement (Fitts’s Law) and simplified choices (Hick’s Law) to reduce cognitive load.
Lo-fi usability testing revealed key pain points:
. Users struggled to locate contact details.
. Navigation labels were unclear, causing hesitation.
. The homepage lacked trust signals, impacting credibility.
Using these insights, we refined the structure, adjusted labels, and improved clarity before transitioning to high-fidelity mockups.
We integrated branding and visual hierarchy, introducing:
. A clearer CTA strategy for better conversion.
. An improved content structure to emphasize trust.
. Enhanced spacing and contrast for better readability.
Final hi-fi usability testing validated our changes while highlighting new areas for improvement:
. Contact details were still overlooked, so we placed them in a fixed, high-visibility section.
. Users hesitated on certain elements, prompting clearer button labels and tooltips.
To strengthen clarity and trust, we refined the content to be:
. Concise and engaging, making key information easy to scan.
. Confident and warm, reinforcing credibility and expertise.
. Trust-focused, highlighting credentials and testimonials.
Through continuous iteration and user feedback, we created a visually appealing, intuitive, and user-friendly website that builds trust and guides users effortlessly.
low and high fidelity testing (changes)
The newly designed Wojciechowska Nieruchomości website strengthens the agency’s digital presence, making it easier for users to find listings and contact the agent. The intuitive design builds trust, reflects professionalism, and ensures a seamless experience for potential clients.
Previously, the agency lacked a strong online platform. By prioritizing usability and credibility, the new website enhances accessibility, streamlines property searches, and expands contact options.
HOME
The home page puts Wojciechowska Nieruchomości on the digital map. It prominently features the search engine, ensuring users can quickly find listings with easy-to-use filters.
CONTACT
The "Contact" page is emphasized in navigation, providing all necessary details alongside a pre-made contact form, making it easier to reach out beyond traditional phone and email.
PROPERTIES
FAVORITES
REFLECTIONS
What started as a design challenge turned into something much bigger. Not long after completing the project, Natalia reached out, expressing interest in using our solution as her actual website. Seeing our work go beyond a concept and potentially impact real users is the ultimate validation of our efforts. Who knows - maybe soon, Polish home seekers will browse properties on a platform we designed.
DESIGNING FOR TRUST
Real estate is built on trust, and that became a core principle in our design process. People don’t just buy homes - they invest in security, reliability, and a sense of belonging. From transparent listings to personal branding, every detail was crafted to make users feel confident in Natalia’s agency. In the end, we didn’t just design a website - we created a trustworthy digital presence, proving that good UX isn’t just about usability, but about fostering genuine connections.
Throughout this project, research was our foundation. Every decision, from navigation structure to visual hierarchy, was informed by real data. Working with an actual client reinforced the importance of designing not just for aesthetics but for functionality and business goals. Even during feedback, our mentors emphasized how well-executed our research was - proof that a strong foundation leads to a strong product.
