Leading a project from idea to testable MVP
Finlink makes getting a mortgage in Germany easy. It helps clients find the best loan and lets consultants smoothly handle their paperwork.
I was part of the founding team from the beginning of product development, focusing on designing the full user experience for both their app and CRM mortgage platform. My role covered all aspects of design, from creating landing pages and user interfaces to carrying out interviews and testing sessions to discover new opportunities and identify user pain points.
Next, I'll guide you through the development of a feature from its initial concept to testing it with users. The entire process, beginning with the initial interviews, took us about three weeks.
Finlink makes getting a mortgage in Germany easy. It helps clients find the best loan and lets consultants smoothly handle their paperwork.
I was part of the founding team from the beginning of product development, focusing on designing the full user experience for both their app and CRM mortgage platform. My role covered all aspects of design, from creating landing pages and user interfaces to carrying out interviews and testing sessions to discover new opportunities and identify user pain points.
Next, I'll guide you through the development of a feature from its initial concept to testing it with users. The entire process, beginning with the initial interviews, took us about three weeks.
User research
Design sprint
UX design
Prototyping
Talking to users and stakeholders to understand the problem
A major challenge for mortgage brokers is dealing with homebuyers who are still in the early stages of house hunting. These clients are difficult to close because the property search can extend over a year, giving them time to explore options with other brokers.
We wanted to figure out how to keep these buyers interested for longer.
We gained insights by interviewing 5 mortgage brokers and 6 homebuyers.
A major challenge for mortgage brokers is dealing with homebuyers who are still in the early stages of house hunting. These clients are difficult to close because the property search can extend over a year, giving them time to explore options with other brokers.
We wanted to figure out how to keep these buyers interested for longer.
We gained insights by interviewing 5 mortgage brokers and 6 homebuyers.
83% of potential clients have not yet found an apartment and are at high risk of being lost
83% of potential clients have not yet found an apartment and are at high risk of being lost
Some quotes from the interviews with customers and mortgage brokers.
Some quotes from the interviews with customers and mortgage brokers.
💭 How might we help mortgage brokers in retaining clients that are still searching for a property?
💭 How might we help mortgage brokers in retaining clients that are still searching for a property?
Brainstorming solutions as a team
We organized a couple of workshops inspired by the design sprint methodology, to collect diverse ideas from the team. We did it all remotely.
First, we looked at the whole process a user goes through to find the crucial part we wanted to improve.
Then, everyone came up with their own solutions separately and we voted on the best ones. We combined them into a cohesive wireframe which helped us move faster into making a prototype the next day.
We organized a couple of workshops inspired by the design sprint methodology, to collect diverse ideas from the team. We did it all remotely.
First, we looked at the whole process a user goes through to find the crucial part we wanted to improve.
Then, everyone came up with their own solutions separately and we voted on the best ones. We combined them into a cohesive wireframe which helped us move faster into making a prototype the next day.
Mapping the customer journey and opportunities and choosing our focus for the MVP
Mapping the customer journey and opportunities and choosing our focus for the MVP
Creating a prototype and testing with users
During our brainstorming, we decided to add property search and comparison features to our platform.
The next day, I created a Figma prototype, which we tested with 5 users to see if they would trust FinLink for their property search and if it would help them pick the right property. The feedback was very positive, especially for the access to multiple search platforms and the comparison table that removes the need for Excel spreadsheets.
We found a few minor usability issues, fixed them, and conducted a second round of interviews for validation, which was also quite successful.
During our brainstorming, we decided to add property search and comparison features to our platform.
The next day, I created a Figma prototype, which we tested with 5 users to see if they would trust FinLink for their property search and if it would help them pick the right property. The feedback was very positive, especially for the access to multiple search platforms and the comparison table that removes the need for Excel spreadsheets.
We found a few minor usability issues, fixed them, and conducted a second round of interviews for validation, which was also quite successful.
During our brainstorming, we decided to add property search and comparison features to our platform.
The next day, I created a Figma prototype, which we tested with 5 users to see if they would trust FinLink for their property search and if it would help them pick the right property. The feedback was very positive, especially for the access to multiple search platforms and the comparison table that removes the need for Excel spreadsheets.
We found a few minor usability issues, fixed them, and conducted a second round of interviews for validation, which was also quite successful.
70% of users who tested the prototype found it useful in choosing the right property 🤩
70% of users who tested the prototype found it useful in choosing the right property 🤩
A new section in the platform for easy comparison of shortlisted apartments
A new section in the platform for easy comparison of shortlisted apartments