Introduction

INDOOR AI is a SaaS platform for interior space design. Its intelligent algorithm accurately identifies perspective, size, and room structure, allowing users to design their space by placing elements on uploaded images of their empty spaces. Categories include lighting, textiles, furniture, wall paint, and more, offering a comprehensive design experience.

Market Research

I've searched for products that have similarities with INDOOR AI or focus on individuals design platforms.
‍Research focus: interior design platforms, Individual design platforms & Furniture companies
‍Main competitors: Floorplanner, Room planner, Homestyler
‍Features comparison: Identify strengths, weaknesses, and potential opportunities for differentiation.

In the competitors analysis comparison I've categorized each platform's primary use.
Identified recurring patterns and drew inspiration from positive aspects. For negatives, I created a list of features to avoid in the design, cross-referenced key features from various platforms, and conducted a comprehensive review and comparison of strengths, weaknesses, and potential opportunities.

Key takeaways:

Real Furniture
integration

Multiple work & share options

Drag & drop

Minimal design & Reducing choices

• Collaborated with real furniture companies to bridge the gap between "what you see is what you get" and create an additional income stream for the platform.
• Communication and sharing are critical features present on all platforms and were highlighted later in user research. Thus, it's essential to implement an option to define the level of sharing and the involvement of other parties in the project, enabling seamless collaboration, saving, and execution.
• Implemented a drag-and-drop feature for elements to facilitate user actions in designing on the platform, along with tools for quick editing.
• Eased user cognitive load and simplified processes through minimal design, reduced selection options, and organized elements into clear categories.

User Research

Main pain points:

• Difficulty Turning Ideas into Action: Struggling to transform creative ideas into tangible projects due to a lack of resources, support, or clear steps.
• Finding Relevant References: Challenges in locating existing materials or design templates that match the desired aesthetic or functionality.
• Communication and Collaboration: Problems with effectively sharing ideas, coordinating team efforts, or resolving conflicts.
• Budget Management: Issues with keeping costs under control, finding affordable options, or securing necessary funding for projects.
• Lengthy Processes: Delays caused by time-consuming workflows, slow approvals, or inefficient procedures that slow down progress.

Goal & opportunities

I initiated a characterization process by identifying tasks and definitions based on research to address user challenges and pain points, ensuring a comprehensive user experience. By understanding user interface interactions, I evaluated ways to improve the product, identified goals and opportunities, and addressed gaps and overlooked aspects that emerged from user story analysis.

Inspiration integration & imports

Budget estimate & design costs

Cleaning furnished space feature

Quick order
design elements

• Creating and Importing Inspirations to the Platform: Developed tools for importing and curating design inspirations on the platform, allowing users to visualize and build spaces based on these inspirations.
• Working Within a Budget: Addressed a key customer pain point by ensuring designs align with budget constraints, preventing the need to exceed financial limits while striving to realize their design aspirations.
• Expanding Market Reach with a Comprehensive Space Cleaning Feature: The tool primarily focuses on simulating interior designs for vacant spaces. Introducing a full space cleaning feature broadens the company's market reach to include individuals keen on rejuvenating their existing living spaces, rather than solely catering to empty apartment designs.
• Created an option for quick orders and generated product lists from the design system’s basket, enabling users to make swift purchasing decisions. This feature establishes a new income stream for the platform and bridges the gap between browsing, designing and ordering.

User Interface

I developed usage flows to analyze each stage of the user journey, incorporating pain points and providing solutions on the platform.

In the characterization process, I focused on user feedback and interaction, ensuring clear indications of actions performed or not performed. I considered familiar navigation icons (e.g., forward, back, save) to enhance user experience, and identified tasks that might require longer engagement, implementing features like automatic save and the ability to resume from the same point to prevent frustration.

I also provided escape options (e.g., cancel, delete, go back) and emphasized important elements through color and contrast for better user guidance.