1. Craigslist Housing and For Sale
Improving user experience with Conceptual Models
Hannah Gilchrist
Steffi Paepcke
Julia Pellicciaro
2. Ideas we brainstormed
+ Gmail
+ Craigslist
+ Online music services
+ Tools for project collaboration
+ Tnergy consumption
+ Healthcare maintenance
+ Meaning of color
3. Craigslist
Research goals:
+ What do students use Craigslist for?
+ What do they like/dislike about it?
+ How can it be improved?
+ Can a different version target a niche
audience (universities, for example)?
4. Survey
+ Are you a university student?
+ Have you used Craigslist? If no, why not?
+ What sections have you visited in the last year?
+ What was your goal?
+ What would you change or add to Craigslist?
6. Categories
Info Architecture
+ Naming conventions
+ Browsing & filtering
+ Structural/backend changes
Features
+ Mapping Feature
+ Photos
Credibility
+ Trust issues/legitimacy
+ Unwanted content
Aesthetics
Personalization was Search History
7. Model 1, v1
forums
housing
services
for sale community
21%
Credibility
29%
personals
browsing Information architecture
gigs
jobs
craigslist
23% 21%
Aesthetics
Personalization
Features
6%
8. Model 1, v2
craigslist.com craigslist category popularity
among students
use & recognized problems among students
Hannah Gilchrist, Steffi Paepcke, Julia Pellicciaro || Conceptual Models, Project 2, Model 1
HOUSING
FOR SALE
BROWSING
personalization JOBS
6% PERSONALS
GIGS
credibility
COMMUNITY
21%
SERVICES
FORUMS
info. architecture
% feedback
of identified 29%
problems +
affected
recognized categories
problem areas
personalization
search history 21%
aesthetics
intelligent search
credibility
seller legitimacy
product representation
aesthetics
craigslist categories
interface usability that are affected by
brand perception 23% identified problem
features
features
location mapping
photo requirement
information architecture
naming conventions
search & filtering options
backend database structure
9. Model 1, v3
craigslist.org craigslist category popularity
among students
use & recognized problems among students
Hannah Gilchrist, Steffi Paepcke, Julia Pellicciaro || Conceptual Models, Project 2, Model 1 HOUSING
FOR SALE
BROWSING
21% JOBS
aesthetics PERSONALS
GIGS
COMMUNITY
SERVICES
FORUMS
credibility
23% 21%
% feedback
features of identified
problems +
recognized affected
categories
problem areas
personalization
search history
intelligent search personalization
credibility 6%
seller legitimacy
product representation
aesthetics
interface usability
brand perception info. architecture
features 29%
craigslist categories
location mapping that are affected by
photo requirement identified problem
information architecture
naming conventions
search & filtering options
backend database structure
10. Model 2: generative research
Focus on finding housing & buying/selling items
Follow-up interview with 4 surveyees:
1. Have you used Craigslist for any of the following in the past
month?
_to buy something, to sell something, to find housing?
2. What other tools/means do you use to find housing/ or buy/sell
an item?
3. Sketch and label your process using the tools you mentioned.
4. Sketch and label your process using Craigslist.
17. Model 2, v1 Model Two: Design Opportunities
Improving user experience for Craigslist Housing and For Sale
Opportunity to improve
Credibility Professional rebrand to
Research inspire confidence and
item or location credibility
Information Architecture
Photo editing feature to
improve photo quality
Aesthetics
Standardized naming
Navigate
Personalization to relevant Craigslist
Monitor spam posts/remove
category
duplicate listings
Features
Search
by criteria of interest
Intelligent searching that Integrate forums with listings
tailors results to previous to facilitate product/location
searches review and research
Support tagging listings across
Make photos mandatory multiple categories
Filter
relevant results
for illegitimate ads
and ‘crazies’ Allow searching across catego-
ries and locations
Offer Starring feature to mark
and access items of interest Mapping feature to map
multiple locations
Contact
Include customizable to schedule
appointments Provide messaging feature to
homepage with Starred items easily send links to others
and preferred categories
Rating system for sellers
and landlords
View Provide anonymous email
items to buy or
housing options
addresses to use for entirety
of exchange
Mapping feature that suggests
public meeting spots
Decide
to purchase item or
rent apartment
Acquire
item or
apartment
18. Model 2, v2 Model Two: Design Opportunities
Improving user experience for Craigslist Housing and For Sale
Opportunity to improve
Professional rebrand to
Credibility inspire confidence and
Research credibility
item or location
Standardized naming
Information Architecture
Photo editing feature to
improve photo quality
Aesthetics Monitor spam posts/remove
duplicate listings
Navigate
Personalization to relevant Craigslist
category Integrate forums with listings
to facilitate product/location
review and research
Features
Support tagging listings across
multiple categories
Search
by criteria of interest
Rating system for sellers Intelligent searching that
and landlords tailors results to previous
searches
Offer Starring feature to mark
and access items of interest Make photos mandatory
Filter
Mapping feature to map relevant results Allow searching across
multiple locations for illegitimate ads categories and locations
and ‘crazies’
Provide messaging feature to
easily send links to others
Include customizable
homepage with Starred items
and preferred categories
Contact Provide anonymous email
to schedule addresses to use for entirety
appointments of exchange
View Mapping feature that suggests
items to buy or
public meeting spots
housing options
Decide
to purchase item or
rent apartment
Acquire
item or
apartment
