A rental platform, from zero to launch
Vakansa rents out under-used spaces (offices, cinemas, schools) by the hour or the year. I led research and design to take the platform from an outdated MVP to a launch-ready product.
Background and problem
Vakansa is a startup running a platform for renting under-used spaces such as offices, cinemas and schools. Hosts can advertise their spaces for anything from a single hour to a long-term contract.
Problem: advertising a venue was long and confusing, search was limited, and information about membership options and prices was insufficient. Users also found the platform outdated and generic, which didn't reflect how Vakansa wanted to be perceived.
Target group
Vakansa is aimed at anyone who has or needs a space. On the owner side that includes companies, schools and associations. On the applicant side, other companies and associations, but also freelancers and self-employed people.
Discovering the pain points
I used a user-centered approach to research existing and potential users:
- Interviews with schools, companies and freelancers
- Affinity diagram to find patterns
- Behaviour types, user stories and customer journey mapping
- A requirements sheet, prioritised
Design concept
Based on the research and analysis, the platform was designed around three concepts:
A smooth process for advertising and booking: a one-step form to create an ad, standard minimum requirements to keep ads high quality, and better search with filters and accelerator buttons.
More information and assistance: more help and recommendations for placing ads, and a complete overhaul of the company and process pages, including clear prices and terms.
Fast, easy access to customer service: support in every step of renting a space, with direct links to customer service in key places on the website and dashboard.
UI and illustrations
A key goal of the new website was to better align with Vakansa's vision. To reflect the platform's commitment to environmental sustainability, we chose green as the primary colour. I built the rest of the palette and fonts around it, and designed minimalist, modern icons for a clean look. Finally, I created new illustrations showing a vision of sustainable cities.
Prototyping and testing
I built a prototype in Adobe XD and used it for user testing. Testing was limited to some flows, since the prototype couldn't create or book real spaces.
The general impression was positive: information felt clear and sufficient, the flow was smoother, and the modern, minimalist style matched Vakansa's image and mission. More tests were planned after launch, especially for the venue owner's calendar and booking process.
Next steps
The aim was an MVP that could launch quickly. In parallel, we planned improvements to the user dashboard, with communication between renters and owners, a better booking system, and an upgraded administrator dashboard.