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Zimmer frei?
Connecting Azubis and affordable housing providers
'Digitalschmiede'
is a three-month innovation initiative by the Bavarian Ministry of Digital Affairs, aimed at developing a complete digital solution, from ideation to a fully functional digital product. In my role as a UX/UI Designer I contributed to the project as part of a multidisciplinary team, focusing on creating a digital solution to simplify the housing search for 'Azubis' (apprentices).
Bavarian Ministry of Digital Affairs
UX/UI Designer
User Flows, User Personas, Expert Interviews, Design System, Styleguide, Wireframes, Prototypes
Website
2024
I designed an intuitive platform based on insights from user research and expert interviews. The platform offers 'Azubis' a clear, targeted housing search and gives housing providers a centralized management tool. Inspired by a user-centered approach, Zimmer frei? streamlines the application process and lays the groundwork for future expansions, making apprenticeships more appealing by connecting 'Azubis' with affordable housing providers.
Zimmer frei? tackles the challenges 'Azubis' face in finding suitable housing, such as a lack of options, scattered information, and discrimination, while also addressing housing providers' administrative burdens and inefficiencies. Given our limited timeframe, we focused on a primary target group that provides housing for 'Azubis'. Dormitories emerged as the ideal choice, as they represent a tangible group and offer the most suitable environment for 'Azubis'. By providing a centralized solution, the platform streamlines the housing search for 'Azubis' and simplifies management for dormitories.
During the design process, we carefully prioritized functionalities that could be developed within the limited three-month timeline to validate our MVP. After assessing the key pain points of both 'Azubis' and dormitories, we identified three main features as essential.
Standardized Dormitory Profiles
- Many dormitories struggle to keep their websites user friendly due to limited time, knowledge, or resources, making it difficult for 'Azubis' to navigate these often confusing sites. Our solution is standardized dormitory profiles, where dormitories can easily upload information such as room details, availability, and images, ensuring a streamlined process, while 'Azubis' can access clear, user-friendly profiles that simplify comparison and enhance their search experience.
Application Checklist
- Missing documents and incomplete applications create additional work for dormitories, while 'Azubis' often lack an easy way to apply online. Our solution is a standardized application process, developed after analyzing various application systems, with optional custom questions for dormitories. 'Azubis' can follow a step-by-step checklist and create a personal profile that automatically fills in application details, reducing effort and ensuring all required fields and documents are completed before submission, streamlining the process for both parties.
Status System
- Dormitories often don't indicate room availability on their websites, leading to applications for already occupied spaces and additional work. Our solution is an easy-to-update status system with three indicators: 'Apply Now', 'Say Hello', and 'No Rooms', ensuring 'Azubis' can quickly see room availability and preventing unnecessary applications by disabling the 'Apply' button when no rooms are available.
To ensure the project could be easily handed over after the three-month period, we based it on a design system and created a style guide with do's and don'ts. This not only facilitated further development by any other team but also improved communication with the developer in my team.
One of our key priorities in attracting investors to further develop the project was demonstrating its potential
for growth. Future features such as a knowledge hub, communication system, and an 'Azubi' network highlighted this potential. Additionally, we laid the foundation for further iterations, including expanding the offerings beyond dormitories and broadening the target audience to include students.
In 2025
, the project was allocated a budget and will be further developed by the Bavarian Ministry of Housing.