· Nolab ·
Nolab
Live Anywhere You Want
Cross border digital real estate investment platform. Buy and sell luxury and vacation properties around the world.
My Role: As a Lead UX /UI Designer, I led the user-centered design for Nolab, a cross-border digital real estate investment platform, aiming to transform complex transactions.
My role involved intensive UX Research, conducting transaction flow studies and usability tests to uncover crucial insights for a trustworthy user experience. I was responsible for interaction design (UX) and user interface (UI) end-to-end, from information architecture to high-fidelity prototypes for features like virtual tours and secure international payments. I also established the design system.
Collaborating with legal, development (including Blockchain specialists), and business teams, I focused on making complex real estate transactions secure and transparent. This included designing the visual integration for Blockchain-verified deed status and simplifying guided legal documents.
Objectives
& Expected Outcomes
Goals and Objectives: Detail of the specific objectives of the project and what is expected to be achieved.
- Optimization and Planning of the Corporate Organizational Chart
- Image, Communication, and Branding Revamp
- Streamlining and Enhancing the Purchase Process
- Advanced Filtering and Rapid Lead Identification
- Detection of Failed Processes and Pain Points
- Implementation of an Efficient and User-Friendly Digital Service
- Evaluation and Optimization of Digital Campaigns and Platforms
- Design of a New Sales Funnel for the Digital Platform
- Efficiency Tools for Sales Teams
- Advanced Prediction System for Investors
- Technological Solutions for Developers, Brokers, and Property Owners
- Strategies to Improve Customer Experience
- Adoption of Smart Contracts and Blockchain Technology
Research
and Analysis
Methodology Alignment
Design Thinking
- Empathize: Interviews & Surveys
- Define: Pain Points & Insights
- Ideate: Flows & Wireframes
- Prototype: High-Fidelity Interactive Models
- Test: User Testing & Iterations
Double Diamond
- Discover → Define → Develop → Deliver
- Clear alignment with research, user flows, and iterative design cycles.
Market & Competitor Analysis
- Benchmarked platforms like Pacaso, Sotheby’s International Realty, Roofstock and James Edition.
- Identified gaps: Complex legal processes, lack of cross-border support, and dated user interfaces.
- Market trends: Rising demand for vacation homes, digital nomad lifestyles, and remote property investments.
User Research
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Conducted 15 in-depth interviews, 60 survey responses, and 3 usability test cycles.
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Insights:
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Legal complexities create user anxiety.
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Transparency and clear legal guidance are top priorities.
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Demand for remote property management services is growing.
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Personas
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Jorge Vázquez (Inversor) Jorge is a retired sales executive who now dedicates his time to seeking properties for investment. He has invested in REITs, properties, land, and diversified investments such as cryptocurrencies, currencies, and bonds.
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Carla Gómez (Mixed) Carla is a marketing professional who invests in properties both to live in and to rent out. She likes finding opportunities that provide a good quality of life and generate additional income.
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Luis Manríquez (Trek) Luis is a young professional who buys properties to live in while studying or working temporarily in different cities. He seeks flexible and affordable options that allow him to change locations as needed.
Strategy
and Planning
Brand Definition
Values: Trust, Simplicity, Transparency, Empowerment.
Mission: Empower people to Live Anywhere They Want.
Vision: Create a world where property ownership transcends borders.
User Journeys & Flows
Mapped user journeys simplify cross-border real estate transactions via smart property discovery, virtual tours, guided legal documents, secure international payments, and blockchain digital deeds. Transparency and progress tracking build user confidence in complex international property dealings.
Information Architecture
Our IA features a dual-path structure for cross-border real estate, separating core transactions from support services to ease legal anxiety. Progressive disclosure leads users from public sections to advanced Dashboards. This scalable framework supports Nolab’s ecosystem, reducing cognitive load.
Design
and Prototypes
Wireframes & Concepts
- Low-fidelity wireframes in Figma focused on intuitive navigation and simplified property searches.
- Iterations prioritized user needs for speed, transparency, and clear legal processes.
Interactive Prototypes
- High-fidelity prototypes for mobile and desktop.
- Clickable interactions for property tours, document uploads, and secure payments.
- Smooth animations for page transitions and form progress indicators.
Visual Exploration
- Style inspired by minimalist luxury and international appeal.
- Color Palette: Deep Blue (Trust), White (Clarity), Gold Accents (Prestige).
- Typography: Montserrat (Headers), Open Sans (Body).
Visual Identity
& UI Design
Logo & Branding
- Logo: A stylized globe integrated with a location pin, representing global mobility and property ownership.
- Colors:
- Deep Blue (#1E3A8A): Trust
- White (#FFFFFF): Simplicity
- Gold (#D4AF37): Prestige
- Typography:
- Montserrat (Headlines)
- Open Sans (Body text)
Design System & UI Components
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Reusable UI components: Buttons, Inputs, Cards, Modals, Navigation Bars.
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Design tokens: Color variables, typography styles, spacing scales.
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Fully responsive and WCAG 2.1 compliant for accessibility.
Final UI Screens
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Homepage: Hero section with tagline Live Anywhere You Want, featured properties.
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Listings Page: Smart filters (location, legal status, price).
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Property Detail Page: Virtual tours, legal document previews, CTA for contacting agents.
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User Dashboard: Transaction tracker, message center, document uploads.
Implementation
& Testing
Development Handoff
- Front-End: React.js, Next.js, Tailwind CSS
- Back-End: Node.js, Express, MongoDB, Blockchain (for deed verification)
- API Integrations: Google Maps, Stripe, Twilio
Quality Assurance & Testing
- Agile sprints with weekly demos and QA.
- Testing: Unit (Jest), Integration, End-to-End (Cypress).
- Ensured cross-device and cross-language support (EN, ES, JP).
Usability Testing & Feedback Loops
- Three rounds of usability testing with 25 participants.
- Key improvements:
- Visual legal process tracker.
- Contextual FAQs on each page.
- Image optimization for faster mobile load times.
Evaluation
& Continuous Improvement
Results & KPIs
- Onboarding time: Reduced to 7 minutes (goal <10 min).
- 55% of new users scheduled virtual tours within 48 hours.
- User satisfaction rating: 4.9/5
- Launched in Americas, Europe, and Asia within the first year.
Ongoing Improvements
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Phase 2: AI-driven property recommendations.
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Phase 3: Expansion to Africa and Middle East.
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Additional Payment Methods: Crypto Wallets in progress.
Key Learnings
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Clear legal guidance builds trust.
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Mobile-first design increases engagement for global users.
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Localization of content enhances usability and trust.
Conclusion
& Next Steps
Project Recap
Nolab successfully launched as a cross-border digital platform enabling luxury property investments worldwide. Its seamless, user-centered experience empowers users to buy, sell, and manage real estate from anywhere.
Next Steps & Recommendations
Run targeted marketing campaigns for digital nomads and retirees.
Expand legal partnerships in new territories.
Launch multilingual live support.