In 2018, the Search Smartly freelance project came into my hands—a venture brimming with potential. The brainchild of a spirited group of young entrepreneurs, this initiative aimed to birth an application tailored for London agents, redefining the landscape of real estate property marketing and sales. The initial scope focused on serving agents exclusively, with a future vision to extend its reach to the wider public through a customer-oriented app.

Our journey embarked with a meticulous dissection of real estate agents' workflows and requirements, honing in on the nuances that would define an optimal user experience. These insights were woven into the fabric of a refined user flow, meticulously crafted to navigate the intricacies of property marketing and sales. As the path unfolded, a series of wireframes were forged, each tailored to different user scenarios. These blueprints paved the way toward a comprehensive and well-structured prototype.

The prototype was subjected to the crucible of mock tests, where real users interacted with the wireframes. These interactions yielded invaluable insights, guiding us toward a design that resonated seamlessly with user expectations. Our efforts embraced both desktop and mobile iterations of the responsive website. Although our initial strategy leaned toward a mobile-first approach, practicalities prompted a strategic shift—we opted to craft the desktop version ahead of time due to impending launch deadlines.

The fusion of strategic foresight and user-centric design lay at the core of our journey. The Search Smartly project metamorphosed from an idea into a tangible solution that not only catered to the immediate needs of real estate agents but also held the promise of transforming the way properties are explored and acquired by the wider public. This journey remains a testament to the dynamic interplay of innovation, adaptability, and practicality in the realm of digital design.

Given the product's exclusive focus on London's real estate agents, we swiftly outlined key user cases. Our prime concern revolved around the user task flow, a pivotal feature that would set us apart.

To enrich our insights, we engaged real market users who completed questionnaires. This interaction unveiled early project pain points. It also prompted us to ponder the incorporation of mandatory and optional steps in the property browsing process.

The wireframing phase proved to be a challenging journey, marked by numerous iterations and intense discussions before arriving at the definitive UI. This phase was brimming with intriguing insights from both users and the team, contributing greatly to the continuous learning and reevaluation process.

Once the wireframes reached their final form, my role shifted to crafting the design mockups. Responding to a pressing demand from the business team, I embarked on the desktop version's creation as a priority.