MiCasa
Streamline your construction workflow
Managing construction projects can be stressful. MiCasa empowers clients and professionals to streamline processes, enhance collaboration, and ensure successful completion.
Overview
Construction is one of the largest sectors globally, with a significant impact on our lives. Projects often begin with great promise, hope, and excitement, but various issues can arise during the process, leading to delays and frustrations for clients, architects, and project managers.
“MiCasa” helps users manage medium-sized projects with the same level of organization typically seen in large-scale projects, all within an easy-to-use interface.
This project was developed in collaboration with entrepreneur Neta Zwebner as part of the UXV final project, alongside my team members Yael Hasid and Ariela Oren.
Defining The Main Problem
Problem Statement
In order to be clear and focused scope, we defined the problem statement that guided us:
Construction projects often face frequent disruptions that lead to significant productivity losses, causing teams to deviate from planned schedules and creating uncertainty. These disruptions result in project delays, stakeholder frustration, and financial setbacks. In an industry with high emotional and financial investments, such delays can halt projects temporarily, lead to dismissals, and result in dissatisfied clients.
The Personas
Every construction project has a holy triple stakeholders: Project manager, Architect and client.
Client
"Keeping track of all the information every day is overwhelming."
Architect
"I have to explain why their feedback and keeping track of timelines are important."
Project Manager
"Client delays are leading to increased costs"
Research
User Research
Research starting point question was: What are the reasons for construction delays?
Overview
The first step was to review the information provided by professionals to understand their perspectives.
Surveys indicate that 72% of project managers experience delays in their projects and cite the following as the main reasons:
- Poor project planning.
- Budget conflicts and inaccuracies.
- Weak communication.
- A poorly defined scope of work.
- The lengthy process of getting necessary approvals.
- Economic changes.
- Project complexity and uniqueness.
- Weather, natural disasters, and other external factors.
- Injuries and safety issues.
Main reasons that relied on human involvement :
Poor project planning, Budget conflicts and inaccuracies & Weak communication.
Interview and Questionnaire Highlights
Project managers and architects identified clients as the weak link, noting that since it's not their primary job, clients are not always available and understand throughout the process (despite being mentally and financially invested).In addition, information shared with them in meetings seemed to get lost between sessions.
Clients expressed feeling disoriented, constantly asking "What happens & When?" and feeling like they are always chasing updates instead of being in control of the situation.
Clients identified budget as the primary disruptive issue in the project.
Jobs To Be Done
Projects daily timeframe
Communication between professionals and clients presents significant challenges, with most interactions occurring primarily through phone messaging throughout the day. Unfortunately, due to their busy schedules, clients often find it difficult to devote their full attention to every aspect of the project.
Emotional Journey Through the Project
Clients often experience an emotional rollercoaster throughout the project, while professionals possess a comprehensive understanding of the project phases and estimated timelines for each of them.
Research Insights & Conclusions
#1
Planing
​
Precise planning ensures that all project phases are scheduled and coordinated, allow client understand process in every step.
#2
Budget
The most common pain point raised in interviews by clients. Will help to prevents financial overruns, ensuring that all project activities can be funded and completed on time.
#3
Communication
Clear and consistent communication between all stakeholders prevents misunderstandings and ensures timely resolution of issues.
#4
approvals
Streamlined approval processes reduce waiting times for necessary permissions, keeping the project on track and on schedule
Design
Desktop | Overview tab
Following user research, the overview tab includes the most critical information for the client:
budget status, project timeline, upcoming events, tasks to complete, and updates from stakeholders.