The catalyst for starting the Brickbond project was actually due to my strong interest in property investment. I used my own situation as the basis for forming the problem statement and went on to develop a solution.
This resulted in me taking the idea, going through the product design process and even using no/low code platforms to build a working app, ready to be deployed to Android and iOS App stores.
Define the hypothesis, and understand the root problem.
People are hungry to invest their wealth wisely and set up a better future for themselves.
They want to provide more income for themselves or even just beat inflation. With property values set to increase by an estimated 17.8% by 2028, it can be a smart way to deploy investment capital. But getting started in property has a high barrier of entry.
Research, research, research. Explore the problem further.
I took time to research the industry, drawing from my own experience, and conducted surveys with a target audience that matched the profile of early property investors—professionals, homeowners, and those over 30, among other criteria.
After conducting more surveys and speaking directly with property investors, I realised there was a gap in the market for a networking tool in the industry.
Some hard won insight... this helped guide the product vision.
80% of surveyed adults without investment properties had considered investing but hadn’t taken the leap yet.
They believe that the reduction in risk, shared responsibilities and combined capital would make it an enticing opprtunity. Respondents who thought it was too expensive to invest in property were also open to investing their money with like-minded investors.
Most people feel strongly that they would like to invest with someone with a good track record in property that they could trust.
Connect property investors of all experience levels, helping them find a like-minded partner to invest with.
With the product vision defined and a clearer picture of the problems that the App should be solving for it's users, it was time to take that research and begin the next phases.
By analysing the user research I could then see patterns that began to form similarities between potential users. These were used to create the 2 main personas.
Tom Hollandaise – tech savvy, mid-30s, above average salary, ready to get started in property; and Andy Michaels – an older investor with a small portfolio, eager to aid his early retirement by growing it further.
With the two main personas defined I was then able to create North Star journey maps for them. These would demonstrate the user's emotions and thoughts throughout a process, not just in the app but at the point where the problem is formed.
This process helps tease out opportunities within the journey that can dramatically improve the user's experience.
For example, I recognised that verifying a user's ID during setup would create too much friction. This presented an opportunity for a solution like "Premium Users," where verification became a paid feature introduced later in the process.
Next came the ideation phase to help visualise different aspects of the app, find key user interactions, and explore potential revenue models.
In turn was able to begin drafting architecture maps, outlining the app’s navigation, content hierarchy, and how different sections relate to each other.
With all the pieces of the puzzle in place, it was time for me to put them together.
Using the output from the ideation phase, the goal was to connect everything and map out how users would navigate the app at a high level to complete their tasks.
Now the real fun began. This is where I could take the defined flows and begin translating them into simplistic wireframes.
They helped map out where different elements (like buttons, menus, and text) would go, ensuring a smooth user experience. Wireframing focuses on the structure and functionality on each screen without distractions like colours or images.
I then created simple prototypes to test remotely with users, identifying any issues or confusion and making adjustments accordingly.
After verifying that the wireframes were where I wanted them, then I needed to take those create the final UI design.
I say final... but there were many iterations, and many hours spent in Figma creating the component library so that I could build out all the screens.
Detailed user profiles lets investors see various KPI's and also filter out profiles which do not match their criteria in an investment partner.
The aim with any onboarding process is to reduce friction to prevent any drop-offs during the process and gets the user into the App as quickly and easily as possible.
To achieve this I just ensure that the user has one simple task per screen to complete - this adds screens BUT importantly it minimises confusion.
Also I need to assume that inexperienced investors will be signing up so it must be understandable for them.
An important feature is pulling potential investment properties from online sources that both investors might be interested in.
Clearly displaying all the relevant data such as rental yields, property highlights and combined disposable capital between two investors helps aid their decision.
It was clear from research that people interested in getting into property felt like they had much to learn within the industry.
To help them hold a conversation with this app, a directory of the most relevant articles would be available to them.
How's the project going at the moment?
As there is not such as thing as the perfect digital product, I am still spending time conducting small usability tests to improve the experience.
I decided to develop this app using a no-code platform called Flutterflow. Not being a developer made this a challenge but I enjoyed it greatly.
The direction I took initially with the branding with a pallette inspired by sage green to represent "sustainable wealth". Unfortunately after a little feedback, I have started exploring more vibrant colours that may be more fitting with a slightly younger audience. The age of property new property investors is lower than it's ever been! Watch this space.
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