Lofft
Building Safer Flatshares Through Design
Lofft
Building Safer Flatshares Through Design
Overview
Overview
UX/UI Design
User & Market research
Systems design
UX/UI Design
User & Market research
Systems design
" A friend of mine got scammed for a €900 deposit. They took his money and he did not have a place to live. I mean, we are students and we are all taking loan from India and it's not good dealing with financial problems. "
" A friend of mine got scammed for a €900 deposit. They took his money and he did not have a place to live. I mean, we are students and we are all taking loan from India and it's not good dealing with financial problems. "
Priya, 26
Priya, 26
Challenge
Flatshare platforms today typically focus on speed and efficiency. They match people as quickly as possible. But this overlooks deeper systemic issues:
Safety and scams: Many tenants reported feeling unsafe, encountering fraudulent listings, or fearing exploitative landlords.
Discrimination and exclusion: Foreigners, minorities, and people with non-traditional backgrounds experienced higher rejection rates when applying.
Integration and loneliness: Newcomers often lacked access to social networks that make flatshare life easier and more supportive.
Opaque processes: Lack of transparency in how flatmates were selected created mistrust and frustration.
The challenge was to design a digital service that not only facilitates flatmate matching but also addresses systemic inequities in how people access shared housing.
Challenge
Flatshare platforms today typically focus on speed and efficiency. They match people as quickly as possible. But this overlooks deeper systemic issues:
Safety and scams: Many tenants reported feeling unsafe, encountering fraudulent listings, or fearing exploitative landlords.
Discrimination and exclusion: Foreigners, minorities, and people with non-traditional backgrounds experienced higher rejection rates when applying.
Integration and loneliness: Newcomers often lacked access to social networks that make flatshare life easier and more supportive.
Opaque processes: Lack of transparency in how flatmates were selected created mistrust and frustration.
The challenge was to design a digital service that not only facilitates flatmate matching but also addresses systemic inequities in how people access shared housing.
Speculative concept
Critical design
Public engagement
Big picture
Big picture
37%
37%
of over 1.5 milion registered students in Germany live in shared flats since only 1 out of 10 get a university accommodation.
of over 1.5 milion registered students in Germany live in shared flats since only 1 out of 10 get a university accommodation.
2x
2x
cost per square meter has doubled over the last few years in Berlin, making shared accommodation a viable option for affordable living.
cost per square meter has doubled over the last few years in Berlin, making shared accommodation a viable option for affordable living.
58%
58%
of young tenants take social impact into consideration when choosing accommodation.
of young tenants take social impact into consideration when choosing accommodation.
Approach
We applied a systems thinking combined with market and user research to understand the problem from multiple angles.
Market analysis: We mapped existing flatshare platforms and identified structural shortcomings: minimal trust-building tools, weak verification, and little support for vulnerable groups.
User research: Interviews and surveys with international students, expats, and minority tenants revealed lived experiences of discrimination, safety concerns, and isolation. These insights became the foundation for design principles emphasising trust, inclusion, and transparency.
Designing the solution:
Verified profiles & secure onboarding: Stronger verification methods to reduce scams and ensure safety.
Fair matching: Instead of landlords or main tenants browsing applicants by photos and personal details (where bias is most common), the platform only shows compatibility scores and shared values in the first rounds. Photos and fuller profiles are revealed later in the process, ensuring everyone has a fairer chance at being considered.
Tenant rights & local guidance: Tools to help newcomers navigate local rental norms and know their rights.
Community agreements: Flatshares could set shared expectations upfront to reduce conflict and strengthen belonging.
Support ecosystem: Linking users with integration services and community initiatives in their city.
Approach
We applied a systems thinking combined with market and user research to understand the problem from multiple angles.
Market analysis: We mapped existing flatshare platforms and identified structural shortcomings: minimal trust-building tools, weak verification, and little support for vulnerable groups.
User research: Interviews and surveys with international students, expats, and minority tenants revealed lived experiences of discrimination, safety concerns, and isolation. These insights became the foundation for design principles emphasising trust, inclusion, and transparency.
Designing the solution:
Verified profiles & secure onboarding: Stronger verification methods to reduce scams and ensure safety.
Fair matching: Instead of landlords or main tenants browsing applicants by photos and personal details (where bias is most common), the platform only shows compatibility scores and shared values in the first rounds. Photos and fuller profiles are revealed later in the process, ensuring everyone has a fairer chance at being considered.
Tenant rights & local guidance: Tools to help newcomers navigate local rental norms and know their rights.
Community agreements: Flatshares could set shared expectations upfront to reduce conflict and strengthen belonging.
Support ecosystem: Linking users with integration services and community initiatives in their city.
Speculative concept
Critical design
Public engagement
Potential Impact
A platform like Lofft could:
Provide foreigners and minorities with safe, transparent pathways into flatsharing.
Reduce scams and discriminatory practices in housing markets.
Help newcomers overcome loneliness and build supportive networks.
Empower cultural organisations, universities, and municipalities with a tool to promote fairer, more inclusive urban housing.
Potential Impact
A platform like Lofft could:
Provide foreigners and minorities with safe, transparent pathways into flatsharing.
Reduce scams and discriminatory practices in housing markets.
Help newcomers overcome loneliness and build supportive networks.
Empower cultural organisations, universities, and municipalities with a tool to promote fairer, more inclusive urban housing.
Speculative concept
Critical design
Public engagement
Ready for change?
Let's talk