Applio

Applio gives Letting Agents the ability to manage the entire pre-tenancy process in one place, automating many of the manual tasks involved in tenancy progression.

Traditional methods of renting a property are often complicated and time-consuming for all parties—agents, tenants, and landlords. With forms to complete, contracts to sign, and files to organize, the process can feel overwhelming. Applio streamlines this process, addressing the evolving challenges of the lettings industry, including online competition, new legislation, and rising customer expectations.

My role

I partnered with a project manager to identify user needs and translate insights into features that align with user behaviors and motivations. I developed frameworks and prototypes to visualize ideas, establish design principles, and guide decision-making among stakeholders. Collaborating closely with engineers, I helped define the product, prioritize features, and negotiate scope for both the initial launch and future iterations.

The product name, "Applio," derived from the Latin word for "applies," reflects its purpose of facilitating tenant applications. I designed the logo and branding to align with this vision. To ensure a seamless user experience, I crafted user journeys, wireframes, prototypes, and detailed design specifications, while establishing a UI kit of reusable components to maintain consistency across the product.

The Process

In the exploratory phase, we conducted interviews with Letting Agents to understand their workflows and pain points. Using these insights, I mapped out use cases and iterated rapidly through sketching, wireframing, and prototyping. Stakeholder feedback and user testing helped refine the design.

The interface was designed to be clean and distraction-free, using a calming palette of blues and whites to focus users on completing their tasks.

Outcomes & Lessons Learned

Applio has significantly streamlined the pre-tenancy process, reducing admin time by up to 50% for stakeholders and enabling them to take on more properties. The MVP has been well-received, and we are exploring expansion to other agencies while refining the UI and developing the Applio design system.

This project demonstrated the value of user feedback and iterative design in delivering an intuitive and effective product.