Case Study · PropTech · 2022

Harold —
renting a home
made simple.

End-to-end mobile UX for a property rental platform — reducing friction across search, listing discovery, and booking for renters and landlords in Milan.

RoleUX/UI Designer
Year2022
PlatformiOS Mobile
IndustryPropTech · Rentals
Harold — Property Rentals app cover
About & Goal

A modern rental platform — for owners and renters alike.

Harold's goal was to design a modern digital platform for property rentals that simplifies the entire process of discovering, booking, and managing accommodations.

The primary objective: build a reliable, user-friendly marketplace where people can find properties that match their needs quickly and confidently — with transparent pricing and secure booking.

The Challenge

Two sides.
One seamless flow.

Harold had to serve two very different users simultaneously — landlords who want to list and manage properties with minimal effort, and renters who need to search, compare, and book confidently. Building one interface that works for both without compromise was the core design challenge.

"No phone tag, no agency commissions — just thousands of properties, bookable on your terms."

Challenge 01

Dual-sided marketplace

Landlords need listing management, calendar control, and tenant screening. Renters need fast search, rich detail, and confident booking. Same app, opposite mental models.

Challenge 02

Trust and transparency

Renting a home is a high-stakes decision. The UI had to surface pricing, property details, and verification signals clearly to reduce anxiety at every step.

Challenge 03

Search-to-booking friction

Existing rental apps lose users between search and booking. Reducing the number of steps and decisions required was essential for conversion.

Challenge 04

Regulatory onboarding

Italian rental law requires identity verification (SPID integration) and fiscal code collection. The legal flow had to feel light, not bureaucratic.

User Analysis

Four profiles.
One platform.

Four distinct user types, each with different goals, digital familiarity levels, and expectations. Each persona shaped specific flows and UI decisions across the product.

Age 30–65

Landlord

Property owners who want to list apartments quickly and manage bookings with minimal effort. Value visibility, reliability, and clear tenant communication.

Age 20–45

Tenant

Actively searching for a home. Prioritise affordability, location, and transparent rental conditions. Need an intuitive interface to browse and book with ease.

Age 35–65+

Professional Landlord

Experienced property managers with multiple listings. Rely on the platform for portfolio management, advanced filters, and streamlined transactions.

Age 18–40

Short-Term Renter

Travellers, students, or professionals needing temporary housing. Seek flexibility, fast booking, and secure payment options above all else.

Harold user analysis — four personas

User analysis — four distinct rental personas

Design Process

Usability first.
Every step of the way.

The app screens were designed with a strong focus on usability and clarity — optimising the booking flow to ensure quick searches, detailed property views, and an intuitive reservation process.

01

Empathise

  • Competitor research
  • User surveys
  • User interviews
02

Define

  • Personas
  • User needs
  • User journey map
03

Ideate

  • Brainstorm
  • Information architecture
  • User flow
04

Prototype

  • Wireframes
  • Interactive prototype
  • Hi-Fi design · UI Kit
05

Deliver

  • Project presentation
  • Dev handoff
Harold goal and design process slides

About & goal · Design process — double diamond framework

Product Design

From search
to signed lease.

Key screens covered the full rental journey: map-based search with 290+ listings, detailed property view with benefits and pricing, SPID-integrated signup, and a streamlined booking confirmation flow.

Harold app screens — full UI mosaic

Product design — key screens across the full rental journey

Reflection

What I took away.

Harold pushed me to think about dual-sided marketplace design rigorously — where every UI decision affects two different user groups with conflicting priorities. Mapping the full journey for both sides before touching any screens saved weeks of rework.

Takeaway 01

Map both sides before designing

In a two-sided platform, a feature that delights landlords can frustrate tenants. Journey mapping both users simultaneously revealed hidden conflicts early.

Takeaway 02

Regulatory UX is design work

SPID integration and fiscal code collection had to feel lightweight. Turning legal requirements into clear, step-by-step onboarding taught me that compliance UX is its own craft.

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