Zillow Feature Redesign

Our team conducted a comprehensive usability evaluation of the Zillow mobile application to identify barriers that prevent users from confidently navigating, filtering, and saving homes. Through moderated usability testing, observation, and analysis, we were able to uncover key pain points.

Guided by these insights, we redesigned core features to improve clarity, structure, and simplicity, introducing reorganized filters with exclusion options, a unified “Saved” page that combines saved homes and searches, and a streamlined navigation bar. The result is a more intuitive, inclusive, and emotionally supportive experience that helps users feel confident and in control of their journey home.

Project Overview

Time Frame

5 weeks

My role

Project Manager, UX Researcher, Usability Moderator, UX Designer.

Team Members

Hazel Do, Keerthi Ginuga, Aarushi Pohnerkar, Navyaa Taneja, Qi Luo

The Problem

The Goal

While the website meets basic needs, usability issues make navigation confusing, potentially frustrating users and reducing engagement and sales.

To uncover usability issues with Zillow’s in-app rental experience and explore design solutions that help users search smarter, save confidently, and navigate with ease.

Process

Research

Competitive Analysis

Screener Survey

A screener survey is a short questionnaire used to identify and select participants who fit the target criteria for a usability test or research study. It helps ensure that only individuals who represent the intended user group are recruited for testing.

Screener Survey insights

Tree Testing

We conducted a tree test to evaluate how well users understood Zillow’s navigation, specifically whether they could find “Saved Searches,” interpret the “Updates” label, and return to saved listings with ease.

Usability Testing

To understand if users can complete key tasks efficiently and confidently, and identify any usability barriers that impact ease of use or satisfaction.

How might we

Redesign Zillow’s saved items, filters, and navigation structure to help users easily find, organize, and control their home search experience?

Solution 1

Solution 2

Added an Overflow Menu to provide additional options for saved searches

Solution 3

Future considerations