Nôok

Understanding the challenge

User Research

To conduct user research, I interviewed five students and created an affinity diagram to find common themes of issues in the current subleasing space. To explore the current methods further, I interviewed six more students and created a data logging sheet from these interviews to inform my designs.

Each year, thousands of students study abroad - especially during the second semester of their junior year - yet continue paying rent for their unused university apartments. With limited short-term leasing options, many face the financial strain of double rent or the stress of finding a reliable subtenant through unverified platforms.

An iterative process

Designing a Solution

Nôok went through several rounds of design, starting with sketching sessions and low-fidelity wireframes, and gradually moving toward a more polished interface. The early work focused on core flows like searching for apartments, viewing listings, and messaging other students.

At the beginning of the project, the app was called TermTurn. After naming research, the name felt too literal and functional. The goal was to feel more personal, warm, and student-focused, so it became Nôok - something shorter, more memorable, and connected to the idea of a comfortable living space.

The final interface combines university email verification, personalized campus feeds, and an Airbnb-style browsing experience to make subleasing simple, secure, and student-centered from start to finish.

Next Steps

With the design finalized, the next phase focuses on development. I prepare detailed Figma annotations, screen flows, and interaction notes, and use weekly reviews to solve technical challenges and refine the experience. This allows the design and development to evolve in sync while keeping the core user flows clear and consistent.